Mitral Regurgitation - Severe 218

Introduction to Clinical Electrophysiology and the ECG

Here is an example of severe mitral regurgitation which is caused by degeneration of the mitral valve leaflets. The first heart sound is normal. The second heart sound is widely split. Following the second heart sound there is a third heart sound gallop. There is a loud, rectangular, pansystolic murmur. There is a brief, rumbling, diamond-shaped diastolic murmur immediately following the third heart sound. In the anatomy video you can see the enlarged left atrium and left ventricle. You can see the turbulent blood flow from the left ventricle into the left atrium. This is the systolic murmur. You can see the brief turbulent blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle in diastole. This is caused by too much blood in the left atrium which forces blood back into the ventricle during diastole producing the flow rumble.

Listen

patient thorax when auscultating by stethoscope

The patient was supine during auscultation.

Visualize

Observe

Review the cardiac animation and notice the enlarged left atrium and left ventricle. Observe the turbulent blood flow from the left ventricle into the left atrium. This is the systolic murmur. You can see the brief turbulent blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle in diastole. This is caused by too much blood in the left atrium which forces blood back into the ventricle during diastole producing the flow rumble.