Abolished ischemic tricuspid regurgitation by revascularization of left anterior descending artery: The role of collateral circulation

A 74-year-old man presented with recent inferior wall myocardial infarction. The right ventricle (RV) was strikingly dilated and akinetic along the free wall compatible with right ventricular infarction. Accordingly, severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was detected. Coronary angiogram revealed total occlusion on the proximal right coronary artery (RCA). There was collateral blood flow from the left anterior descending (LAD) artery to the right ventricular ischemic region. The LAD artery also had a significant stenosis which might limit the required amount of blood supply to collateral blood vessels. Because of the technical difficulty in the intervention of RCA, the patient underwent percutaneous intervention on the LAD artery. After the revascularization of LAD artery, severe TR was abolished accompanied by the right ventricular functional recovery.