Interv Akut Kardiol. 2002;1(2):85-89

Chronic regurgitative valve disease of left heart yesterday and today

Roman Čerbák

Centrum kardiovaskulární a transplantační chirurgie v Brně

Diagnosis and treatment of mitral and aortic regurgitation have recently undergone significant improvements. Understanding of the pathophysiologic changes of volume and pressure preload of the left heart chamber in valve regurgitation have contributed to the understanding of the crucial differences between aortic and mitral regurgitation. Detailed information about left heart chamber function has offered earlier surgical solutions to these disorders. Preoperative diagnosis consists mainly of noninvasive evaluations, surgical intervention favouring valve repair operations. Advances in cardiosurgery, anaesthesia and postoperative care have brought improvement, both in the surgical outcomes and the long term quality of life of a patient.

Keywords: chronic mitral regurgitation, chronic aortic regurgitation, function of left heart chamber, indications for operation, cardiosurgery of valve diseases.

Published: December 31, 2002  Show citation