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MITRAL INSUFFICIENCY OR INCOMPETENCY

Categories: Circulatory System

This is the most common valvular
disease. The segments of the valve may be shortened and deformed. There is

often stenosis (narrowing) caused by this deformity. The effects are

regurgitation, flowing back of blood from the left ventricle into the left

auricle, which is also receiving blood from the lungs, causing dilatation

of the auricle and its enlargement to expel the extra blood; dilatation

and other enlargement of the le
t ventricle occurs on account of the large

quantity of blood forced in by the auricle; obstruction to flow of blood

from pulmonary veins due to extra blood in left auricle, hence dilatation

and enlargement of right ventricle which forces blood through the lungs;

dilatation and enlargement of right auricle.



Symptoms. If compensation is slightly disturbed we have blueness

(cyanosis), clubbing of the fingers, hard breathing on exertion, and

attacks of bronchitis and bleeding from the lungs. If compensation is

seriously disturbed we are likely to have the blueness (cyanosis) more

marked, heart beat feeble and irregular, constant hard breathing, with

cough and water or bloody sputum, dropsy in the feet first and going up

and involving the abdomen and chest cavities.



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