Abstract
Mitral regurgitation (MR) is defined as the reflux of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole, resulting from the loss of adequate closure of the mitral valve. Echocardiography has become the primary noninvasive imaging method for evaluating mitral valvular regurgitation, since it provides structural and hemodynamic information. The echocardiographic assessment of mitral regurgitation should quantify the regurgitation, assess the valve anatomy and function, and evaluate the consequences of mitral regurgitation on the cardiac chambers. In clinical practice, the management of patients with mitral regurgitation is based largely on the echocardiography results. This article describes the echocardiographic assessment of mitral regurgitation, emphasizing the usefulness of echocardiography in primary care.
