“Until recently, we could often only administer diuretic medication for a leaking tricuspid valve,” says Dr. Jan Van Der Heyden, cardiologist at AZ Sint-Jan Brugge. “Open heart surgery was too risky for many of these (often older and weakened) patients.”
‘Forgotten valve’
The tricuspid valve was therefore called the ‘forgotten valve’ for many years, because few treatments were possible. New technology is now available. Just like with other heart valves, doctors can now also place a new valve here through a thin tube.
