How should tricuspid valve insufficiency be diagnosed?

  Abstract: The diagnosis of tricuspid valve insufficiency is asymptomatic in mild cases and fatigue, abdominal distension, exertional palpitations and shortness of breath, edema, ascites, and occasionally jaundice in more severe cases; radiographs show hypertrophy of the right atrium and right ventricle and projection of the right edge of the heart in patients with tricuspid valve insufficiency.  The diagnosis is generally not difficult to make based on the typical murmurs, signs and symptoms of right ventricular right atrial enlargement and body circulation stasis.  The diagnosis of this disease mainly relies on auxiliary examinations.  1, mild cases are asymptomatic, more severe ones have fatigue, abdominal distension, exertional palpitations and shortness of breath, edema, ascites, and occasionally jaundice.  2, Radiographs show hypertrophy of the right atrium and right ventricle in patients with tricuspid valve incompetence and projection of the right edge of the heart, along with changes caused by other valvular lesions.  3.Electrocardiogram shows atrial hypertrophy with high and wide P waves in patients with tricuspid valve insufficiency; and right bundle branch block or right ventricular hypertrophy, even myocardial strain. Atrial fibrillation is often present.  4, echocardiography and Doppler examination: cross-sectional ultrasound can detect the size of the tricuspid annulus and understand the thickening of the valve, which helps to distinguish relative and organic lesions. In the case of tricuspid valve closure insufficiency, ultrasonography can see microbubbles to and from the tricuspid valve; Doppler can directly monitor the abnormal signal from the right ventricle to the right atrium and can estimate the degree of regurgitation.  5. Cardiac catheterization: It shows a prominent V wave of the right atrial pressure waveform and steepening of the y-descending branch, which is more obvious during inspiration. The right atrial pressure waveform is similar to the right ventricular pressure waveform, only the amplitude is smaller, which is called right ventricularized right atrial pressure and is a manifestation of severe tricuspid regurgitation.  6, cardiovascular imaging: right ventriculography, right anterior oblique cinematography can show tricuspid regurgitation and its degree. However, there are potential false positives because the cardiac catheter crosses the tricuspid valve.