A new echocardiographic view for the TricValve system

Abstract

Heterotopic tricuspid valve implantation is one of the treatment options available for advanced stages of tricuspid regurgitation when other therapeutic possibilities are not feasible. Currently, the TricValve system (P + F Products + Features Vertriebs GmbH, Austria) is one of the most widely used; this system consists of 2 valves that are implanted into the inferior and superior vena cava. Echocardiography plays a significant role during implantation and subsequent monitoring. The echocardiographic assessment of the valve implanted in the inferior vena cava is not difficult by transthoracic (figure 1) or transesophageal echocardiogram; however, the assessment of the superior vena cava is more complex. Therefore, to monitor the superior vena cava, we propose the use of a new view, placing the transthoracic echocardiography transducer on the patient while in the supine position in the suprasternal fossa, between the sternal and clavicular belly of the right sternocleidomastoid muscle (figure 2A, asterisk), with