Chronic traumatic tricuspid insufficiency.

Isolated tricuspid insufficiency (TI) is relatively uncommon and mostly of traumatic origin. We report clinical noninvasive and invasive findings and surgical results in 5 cases. All patients had complete clinical, noninvasive and invasive studies including right and left catheterization, and coronary angiographies in 3 patients.

Congestive heart failure in valvular heart disease in pregnancies with and without valvular prostheses and anticoagulant therapy.

The course and complications of pregnancies in 46 patients with valvular disease and congestive heart failure with or without valve prostheses are described. In group I consisting of 33 women without valve replacement and without anticoagulant therapy one thromboembolic event was seen, emergency closed or open heart surgery was necessary five times. One still-birth happened after open heart surgery.

Persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium, atrial septal defect, and absence of the coronary sinus. Recognition and surgical correction.

The diagnosis of atrial septal defect (ASD), persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) and absence of coronary sinus was established by cardiac catheterization in a 20 years old female. At surgery the coronary vein ostia were located in the left atrium. LSVC was ligated and pericardial patch was sutured around the orifices of the coronary veins and extended to the ASD to redirect the coronary blood flow into the right atrium and close the defect.