Pulmonary regurgitation
Pulmonary Regurgitation
Pulmonary regurgitation (pronounced: pul-mon-ary re-gur-ji-tay-shun), also known as pulmonic insufficiency or pulmonic valve regurgitation, is a condition where the pulmonary valve does not close properly, causing the blood to flow back into the right ventricle of the heart.
Etymology
The term "pulmonary" is derived from the Latin word "pulmonarius", meaning "of the lungs", and "regurgitation" comes from the Latin word "regurgitare", which means "to overflow".
Causes
Pulmonary regurgitation is often caused by conditions such as pulmonary hypertension, congenital heart disease, or rheumatic heart disease. It can also occur as a complication of other medical procedures, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Symptoms
Symptoms of pulmonary regurgitation may include shortness of breath, fatigue, heart palpitations, and swelling in the legs or abdomen.
Diagnosis
Pulmonary regurgitation is typically diagnosed through a combination of physical examination, medical history, and imaging tests such as echocardiogram or cardiac MRI.
Treatment
Treatment for pulmonary regurgitation depends on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause. It may include medications, lifestyle changes, or in severe cases, surgery to repair or replace the pulmonary valve.
Related Terms
- Pulmonary valve
- Right ventricle
- Heart
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Congenital heart disease
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations
- Swelling
- Physical examination
- Medical history
- Imaging tests
- Echocardiogram
- Cardiac MRI
- Medications
- Lifestyle changes
- Surgery
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