Operative criteria of regurgitant chronic valvular disease of the left heart: The role of echocardiography

Doppler echocardiography is the key investigation of left heart valvular re gurgitation. The anatomy of the valves, the mechanism and aetiology of the lesions and the severity and consequences on the cardiac chambers and pulmo nary pressures may be determined. In recent years, surgical indications have changed, with earlier interventi on in severe, chronic mitral and aortic regurgitation. These indications ar e based to a large extent on echocardiographic criteria. Echocardiography i s therefore at the centre of strategic discussion of the management of valv ular heart disease as it provides a number of criteria which influence the decision and operative date and which will be discussed in this article.