SIMULATION OF CHRONIC MITRAL REGURGITATION

In mitral regurgitation the left ventricle enlarges in order to increa se its stroke Volume because of the regurgitation through the mitral v alve. The amount of this volume increase, and of the consequent increa se in left ventricular mass, is dependent upon the amount of the regur gitant volume, but many other factors come into play, such as left ven tricular pumping capability (contractility), the level. of peripheral pressure, resistance and compliance of the arterial tree. The aim of t his study is to predict the final left ventricular Volumes and mass gi ven the amount of mitral regurgitation. The predicted results are comp ared with actual data in real patients. In most cases prediction is fa irly good; some discrepancies can be interpreted as an index of advanc ed decompensation.