Echo of the Week: Mitral Regurgitation
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Types of Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral regurgitation, also known as mitral valve insufficiency, occurs when the mitral valve leaflets do not close properly, causing backward flow of blood into the left atrium. This added volume can continue its journey back into the pulmonary veins to the lungs, increasing the right ventricular systolic pressure and contributing to symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath.
Primary (Degenerative) vs. Secondary (Functional) Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral regurgitation (MR) is broadly classified into two main types: primary (degenerative) and secondary (functional). These forms can present independently or coexist, and may occur in either acute or chronic clinical settings.
Echocardiography is the cornerstone of evaluation, used to assess left atrial and ventricular size, measure left ventricular ejection fraction, and most importantly, quantify the severity of MR. Techniques such as the proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method are often employed to estimate regurgitant volume and effective regurgitant orifice area
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