Tricuspid chordal rupture following stab injury: a case of successful repair

We report a case of a 32-year-old male patient who sustained an isolated stab injury to the left chest wall. He was initially treated with emergency surgery for right ventricular free wall rupture, with an uneventful postoperative course. During follow-up, the patient complained of exercise intolerance and dyspnea on effort. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated a previously undiagnosed severe tricuspid regurgitation due to flail of the anterior leaflet and a ruptured chorda. A redo operation was scheduled, and the valve was successfully repaired, with different techniques employed. This case highlights the importance of careful clinical evaluation of victims of chest penetrating trauma and how early diagnosis of hidden valvular lesions might increase the odds of valve repair. It also demonstrates the clover technique as a valuable technique in the correction of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation.