Tricuspid atresia

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Heart, section through the middle

Tricuspid atresia is a type of congenital heart disease in which the tricuspid heart valve is missing or abnormally developed. The defect blocks blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.

Tri atresia

Tricuspid atresia is an uncommon form of congenital heart disease that affects about 5 in every 100,000 live births. Twenty percent of patients with this condition will have also have other heart problems.

Normally, blood flows into the right atrium, then through the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle and on to the lungs. If the tricuspid valve is missing or broken, there is no outlet for blood flow from the right ventricle to right atrium. Blood ultimately cannot enter the lungs, where it must go to pick up oxygen (become oxygenated).

Infants with tricuspid atresia generally are cyanotic (bluish discoloration of skin) and easily become short of breath.

Review Date: 06/27/2006
Reviewed By: Anne J. L. Chun, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.