Tricuspid valve plasty associated with removal of an infected pacemaker lead: report of a case

We performed tricuspid valve plasty in a 72-year-old woman with pacemaker lead infection and septicemia. All the infected pacemaker system was removed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Because of advanced adhesion and infection, we needed partial resection and plasty of the tricuspid valve. Postoperative echocardiography revealed only mild tricuspid regurgitation and the recurrence of infection has been avoided. Our technique of valve plasty was useful in a patient with advanced infection of both pacemaker leads and tricuspid valve leaflets.