INTRODUCTION
The right atrioventricular valve (RAV) is an important anatomical structure of the human heart which prevents blood backflow from the right ventricle to the right atrium. RAV regurgitation is common, although it is mostly asymptomatic. It is typically diagnosed incidentally or when the pathology has led to severe clinical symptoms (1). Disorders of the RAV are mainly treated with surgical techniques (2). However, these procedures are challenging and have a high risk of complications (2–4). Therefore, clinicians are exploring less invasive treatment alternatives (5,6). Several promising techniques and devices are currently in development. These include the FORMA spacer device, the Trialign device, the Caval Valve Implantation (CAVI), the TriClip device and many others (5,7–9). It is anticipated that minimally invasive procedures will become routine options for patients with contraindications to classical cardiac surgery (6,7).
The RAV is a sophisticated morphological entity. The complex anatomy of the RAV has lowered the success rate of surgical and transcatheter procedures performed within the area (10,11). For instance, although the RAV is commonly referred to as the tricuspid valve, a recent study found that almost 40% of examined specimens had 4 distinct leaflets (10). The RAV had a lot more diversity in the shapes and sizes of its scallops, commissures, tendinous chords and papillary muscles (12). The RAV annulus was found to have an irregular and nonplanar shape (13). Finally, there was even significant variability in the anatomic landmarks and locations of each leaflet and commissure. Understanding the detailed morphology of the RAV and the spatial relationships between important anatomic landmarks is crucial for the success of invasive cardiac procedures.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the anatomy of the RAV and describe the spatial relationships between selected structures of the right atrium. We hope that the collected data will help enhance the quality and safety of cardiac surgeries and minimally invasive procedures conducted within the RAV area.