Valvular Heart Disease
Aortic Regurgitation
Last Updated: November 24, 2025Background Aortic regurgitation (AR), also known as aortic insufficiency, is the diastolic backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle due to inadequate closure of the aortic valve. This leads to volume overload of the left ventricle, progressive dilation, and eventually left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Chronic AR develops insidiously over years to decades,...
Aortic Stenosis
Last Updated: November 25, 2025Background Aortic stenosis (AS) is the narrowing of the aortic valve orifice, obstructing blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta during systole. This results in increased left ventricular pressure, concentric hypertrophy, and eventually left ventricular dysfunction. If untreated, AS can lead to syncope, angina, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Classification/Types By Etiology:...
Mitral Regurgitation
Last Updated: November 25, 2025Background Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the retrograde flow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during systole due to incompetent closure of the mitral valve [1]. This volume overload increases left atrial and pulmonary pressures, eventually leading to left ventricular dilation, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure if untreated [2,3]. MR...
Mitral Stenosis
Last Updated: November 25, 2025Background Mitral stenosis (MS) is a narrowing of the mitral valve orifice that impedes blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle during diastole. This obstruction results in increased left atrial pressure, pulmonary venous congestion, and ultimately right heart strain. Over time, it can lead to atrial fibrillation, thromboembolic events, pulmonary hypertension, and...
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Last Updated: November 25, 2025Background Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a valvular abnormality characterized by the systolic displacement of one or both mitral valve leaflets into the left atrium due to myxomatous degeneration or connective tissue abnormalities. This can lead to mitral regurgitation (MR) if leaflet coaptation is impaired. While often benign, MVP can be associated with arrhythmias, MR,...
Tricuspid Regurgitation
Last Updated: November 25, 2025Background Tricuspid regurgitation (TR), also known as tricuspid insufficiency, is the backward flow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium during systole due to incomplete closure of the tricuspid valve. This leads to right atrial and right ventricular volume overload, progressive chamber dilation, systemic venous congestion, and eventually right-sided heart failure. TR...