Blood cysts of the tricuspid valve
There are 9 articles on BCs of the TV, 6 case reports53,55-60, 2 images in cardiovascular disease54,58 and 1 letter to the Editor61, published from 1991 to 2021 (Table 3).
Patient characteristics : Of the 9 patients 5 were females and 4 males with an age ranging from 35 to 88 years (mean, 67±15 years). Symptoms at presentation were generally not specific except for few cases with moderate-severe tricuspid regurgitation, with congestive heart failure or symptoms related to other concomitant cardiac pathology. One patient had an associated muscular ventricular septal defect without hemodynamic significance56.
Surgical data : Cyst removal was performed in 6 cases (55%) while in the remaining 3, surgery was considered not indicated. All patients were operated through a median sternotomy using a right atriotomy for cusp excision; in one case even a combined left atrial-transseptal approach is reported. In 4 patients BCs removal was associated with various techniques of TV repair; in one patient myocardial revascularization was also performed.