Pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis with postoperative increase of tricuspid regurgitation

We report a case of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) that increased markedly after pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis. Preoperative mild-to-moderate TR increased to severe following surgery. The patient was asymptomatic, and gradual regression of TR was observed. Eighteen months postoperatively, a left atrial thrombus formed, and a second surgery consisting of thrombectomy and tricuspid annuloplasty was performed. The increase in TR after pericardiectomy was thought to be due to dilatation of the right chambers and the annulus of the tricuspid valve. Several studies that entail mitral regurgitation after pericardiectomy are discussed.