Case report: Surgical valvular pulmonary reconstruction for a previous unreported rheumatic right-sided valve disease with severe pulmonary regurgitation

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a widespread illness in developing countries. RHD causes 99% of mitral stenoses in adults and 25% of aortic regurgitation. However, it only causes 10% of stenoses of the tricuspid valve, and is almost always associated with left-side valvular lesions. Isolated right-side valves are rarely affected, but may result in severe rheumatic pulmonary regurgitation. Herein, we present a case of rheumatic right-sided valve disease with severe pulmonary valve contracture and regurgitation in a symptomatic patient, successfully managed by surgical valvular reconstruction with a tailored bileaflet bovine pericardial patch. The options for surgical approach are also discussed. To our knowledge, the presented rheumatic right-sided valve disease with severe pulmonary regurgitation is the first to be reported in the literature.

Automated summary

Rheumatic heart disease is prevalent in developing countries and mainly affects the mitral and aortic valves. This case presents a rare occurrence of severe pulmonary valve contracture and regurgitation in a patient with rheumatic right-sided valve disease. Surgical valvular reconstruction with a bovine pericardial patch was successfully performed.