Understanding the Pathophysiology of Mitral Regurgitation: The First Step in Management

Osman O. Al-Radi, MBBS, Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Mitral regurgitation is a frequent complication of coronary artery disease (CAD), and it also frequently co-exists with CAD. The surgical management of mitral regurgitation is dependent on its clinical presentation as well as the pathophysiology of regurgitation. A brief discussion of the pathophysiology of mitral regurgitation and a modified version of the Carpentier classification are presented.
Key words: mitral regurgitation, echocardiography, Carpentier classification.