How to Quantify Early Systolic Mitral Regurgitation

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Figure 9. Color Doppler parasternal short axis, mitral valve
Figure 10. Color Doppler M-mode, apical 4-chambers, mitral valve
Figure 10. Color Doppler M-mode, apical 4-chambers, mitral valve

In the short-axis view at the level of the mitral valve (Figure 9), we can locate with color Doppler the location of the jet: in this case halfway between the center of the mitral orifice and the postero-medial commissure.
Most interestingly, by switching on the color M-mode modality in the apical 4-chamber view, we can clearly see (double white arrow) that regurgitation is not holo-systolic, but is located in the first half of systole. This “early systolic” regurgitation is usually mild in grade, sometimes moderate, almost never severe (… but never say never).

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