BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study evaluated the clinical features of double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) in adults. Most cases of DCRV are diagnosed and treated during childhood. Consequently, very few reports include cases in which its clinical characteristics are evident in adults. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data for 10 adult patients (age > or = 18 years) with DCRV. RESULTS: Electrocardiogram showed right ventricular hypertrophy in 3 DCRV patients. All cases were associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD; 7 for perimembranous, 2 for muscular outlet, and 1 for the subarterial type). Surgical correction was done for 7 DCRV patients all of whom survived operations. Their follow-up echocardiogram showed the pressure gradient in their right ventricle was significantly decreased from 69.4 +/- 17.2 mmHg preoperatively to 10.2 +/- 5.0 mmHg postoperatively (p < 0.05). In the short-term follow-up, there was no significant increase in the pressure gradient in the right ventricle. CONCLUSIONS: There are lots of cases of DCRV that are not diagnosed accurately in adults. In our experience, all DCRV cases had VSD and surgical correction of these cases showed excellent results. Therefore, accurate diagnosis of DCRV is necessary so that DCRV is not overlooked and operations are enabled within an appropriate time.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Catheterization ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right/*diagnosis/*surgery ; Young Adult

Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma. With the increase in the number of automobile accidents, traumatic tricuspid regurgitation has become an important problem after blunt chest trauma. It has been reported more frequently because of better diagnostic procedures and a better understanding of the pathology. The early diagnosis of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation is important because traumatic tricuspid injury could be effectively corrected with reparative techniques, early operation is considered to relieve symptoms and to prevent right ventricular dysfunction. Echocardiography can reveal the cause and severity of regurgitation. We experienced a case of tricuspid regurgitation after blunt chest trauma early diagnosis and valve repair were performed. This case reminds the physicians in the emergency department should be aware of this potential complication following non-penetrating chest trauma and echocardiography is useful and should play an early role.
Automobiles ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Papillary Muscles ; Rupture ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thorax ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right

We present a case of a patient exhibiting isolated elevation of the central venous pressure with minimal hemodynamic deterioration in an immediate postoperative period after Bentall operation requiring re-exploration. Isolated elevation of the central venous pressure usually alerts physicians of a volume overload or right ventricular dysfunction. However, even in the absence of significant hemodynamic deterioration, the development of loculated hematoma that compresses the superior vena cava should be ruled out, as it can be life-threatening through the formation of cerebral and laryngeal edema, similar to superior vena cava syndrome. This case emphasizes the importance of a prompt differential diagnosis of the isolated central venous pressure elevation after cardiac surgery with transesophageal echocardiography for the administration of appropriate treatment.
Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Central Venous Pressure* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Hematoma* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Laryngeal Edema ; Postoperative Period ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome ; Thoracic Surgery ; Vena Cava, Superior* ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right