Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation

Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and order tests as needed to diagnose this condition.

During a physical exam, your provider will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and breathing. A heart murmur is sometimes detectable during an exam. Your provider may also feel your neck and belly (near your liver). Feeling a strong pulse in either place is a sign of tricuspid regurgitation.

What tests diagnose this condition?

Healthcare providers typically use echocardiography to diagnose tricuspid regurgitation. This test can also identify any valve abnormalities that would indicate the primary form of the condition. Rarely, if an echocardiogram doesn’t provide enough information, providers order a cardiac catheterization.

Other tests your provider may order to find the cause of regurgitation or learn its effects on your body include:

• Blood tests.
• Chest X-ray.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG).
• Cardiac MRI.