Mitral Regurgitation, Acute
Alternate Names : Acute Mitral Insufficiency, Acute Mitral Incompetence
How is the condition diagnosed?
The diagnosis of acute mitral regurgitation begins with a medical history and physical exam. The healthcare provider can hear the sound of abnormal blood flow across the valve, which is called a heart murmur. Another sign is a vibration, called a thrill, felt on the chest.
Special tests can be done to identify the cause and severity of the regurgitation. Common tests include the following:
cardiac catheterization, which involves placing a wire into the heart to measure the amount of blood flowing in the wrong direction
chest X-ray, to look for enlargement of the heart and fluid in the lungs
echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound waves to look at blood flow throughout the heart
electrocardiogram, or ECG, which measures electrical activity in the heart
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