Echocardiogram.

[Gwersey]

Can anybody explain "aortic and mitral regurgitation" in layman's terms please?

[rosyG]

Hi

It just means blood travelling through those heart valves is returning a little rather than continuing on

If it’s mild it doesn’t matter and most people have a little.

[Gwersey in reply to rosyG]

So, not something terribly serious? No surgery necessary?

[BobD Volunteer]

To clarify, the aortic or tricuspid valve is at the bottom of you left ventricle and the mitral valve between the left atrium and ventricle. Regurgitation just means there is some back flow or leakage. Since the atrium squeezes to pump blood down into the ventricle when the ventricle contracts a little may leak back into the atrium and so on. Most people have some leakage.

[Gwersey in reply to BobD]

Thank you.

[Hidden]

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

First see the diagram above.

Regurgitation in this context means the valves are not doing their job properly, and letting some blood come back through the valve. Of course the degree of regurgitation can vary from trivial to severe. Most times it’s not a problem.

[Gwersey]

Thank you.

[seasider18]

You can hear the regurgitation during the echocardiogram.

[fairgo45]

this is a good link to explain it all myheart.net/articles/mitral...

[Gwersey in reply to fairgo45]

Thank you.