[Echocardiographic assessment of mitral regurgitation in the perspective of valve repair]. / Valutazione ecocardiografica dell'insufficienza mitralica nella prospettiva della riparazione valvolare.

ABSTRACT

Echocardiography is the most used imaging technique for the study of patients with mitral regurgitation because of its wide distribution, non-invasiveness and ability to provide diagnostic, functional, hemodynamic and prognostic evaluations. Also, echocardiography can provide essential information on surgical and percutaneous reparability of the regurgitant valve and can guide the surgical and interventional indications relative to valve repair. However, the echocardiographic study is not always appropriately performed in clinical practice and based on a surgery perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to describe how to best use echocardiography for evaluation of patients with mitral regurgitation, highlighting the advantages and limitations of this technique before and after surgical or interventional repair.