Treatment Options for Tricuspid Atresia
Tricuspid atresia is a congenital heart disease in which the tricuspid valve fails to develop properly. The tricuspid valve is normally responsible for controlling blood flow between the right atrium and the right ventricle of the heart. Without a properly functioning tricuspid valve, the heart cannot pump blood through the lungs normally. Tricuspid atresia is diagnosed either before or just after a baby is born. It is a condition that must be corrected with surgery.
The objective of treatment for tricuspid atresia is to manage symptoms and enable the blood flow through the heart and lungs. Babies successfully treated for tricuspid atresia may live into adulthood with on-going monitoring and management of complications.
Treatment of tricuspid atresia occurs over a lifetime and includes:
Medication:
- Prostaglandin E1: This medication may be administered in the hospital shortly after birth. It temporarily keeps a blood vessel in the heart, called the patent ductus arteriosus, from closing as it normally does after birth. By keeping this blood vessel open, blood can flow to the lungs to get oxygen.
- Medications may be prescribed to manage symptoms, improve heart function, or treat complications. These may include:
- Diuretics: These medications help reduce fluid buildup in people with heart failure symptoms.
- Antiarrhythmics: This type of medication helps control abnormal heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, which can sometimes develop in individuals with tricuspid atresia.
- Anticoagulants: These medications help decrease the risk of blood clots and possible strokes or are used to treat blood clots.
Surgery:
- Surgery and other procedures are the mainstay of tricuspid atresia treatment. Surgery may be performed to improve blood flow and correct the structural abnormalities associated with tricuspid atresia. The specific surgical procedures recommended depend on the individual's condition and specific heart defects.
- More than one surgery is often needed and may occur at different times, as the baby gets grows and gets older.
- Heart transplantation: In cases where other treatments are not effective, a heart transplant may be considered. This involves replacing the diseased heart with a healthy donor heart.
Tricuspid atresia requires lifelong check-ups with cardiac specialists to monitor the condition and manage complications that may occur, such as heart failure or arrhythmias. Treatment for tricuspid atresia is highly individualized based on each person's unique situation. Consult with pediatric or adult congenital cardiac specialists to discuss all available treatment options and determine the best course of action for your specific situation.
Medication dosing may be affected by many factors. Check with your health care professional about dosing for your individual situation. Other side effects can occur. Check with your health care professional or read the information provided with your medication for additional side effect information.