What is Ebstein’s anomaly of the tricuspid valve?
Ebstein’s anomaly occurs when the tricuspid valve fails to develop normally while the baby is in the womb. This problem ranges widely from very mild to severe. It is quite rare affecting 1 in 210,000 births and occurs equally in boys and girls. In the normal heart, the tricuspid valve is located on the heart’s right side between the atria (the upper chamber) and the ventricle (the lower chamber). A heart valve consists of thin flaps of tissue anchored in a fibrous ring. The valves ensure that the blood flows in a forward direction through the heart, opening to permit blood to flow forward, and closing as the heart contracts to prevent blood from flowing backwards. In Ebstein’s anomaly, the tricuspid valve leaflets (1) are attached below their usual place, down into the area that is usually part of the right ventricle (2). Two problems can result from their abnormal placement: the valve may leak and the small right ventricle may serve as a less effective pumping chamber. In addition to
