6.11: Pulmonary Valve Regurgitation
- Page ID
- 42761
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Etiology and Pathology
Physiologic pulmonic regurgitation, qualified as trace to mild, is present in nearly all individuals. Pulmonary valve regurgitation can be caused by valvular disease such as infective endocarditis (rarely involves pulmonic valve) or connective tissue disease, carcinoid, congenital heart disease, or it can be secondary to pulmonary hypertension, which causes dilation of the valve ring. Pulmonic regurgitation can result in impairment of right ventricular function and eventual clinical manifestations of right-sided volume overload and heart failure.
Clinical Presentation
Patients are often asymptomatic. Symptoms of right-sided heart failure develop when the severity and duration of the regurgitation results in right ventricular enlargement and decompensation. Symptoms include dyspnea on exertion, light-headedness, lethargy, peripheral edema, chest pain, palpitations, and abdominal pain. Often these symptoms are accepted by the patient and attributed to poor physical fitness, causing a delay in presentation. The jugular venous pressure is usually increased in pulmonary valve regurgitation. A palpable impulse may be present at the left lower sternal border due to right ventricular enlargement. On auscultation P2 may be delayed due to increased right ventricular end-diastolic volume and increased ejection time with large stroke volume. P2 can be accentuated in case of pulmonary hypertension, The murmur of pulmonary regurgitation is heard best at the third to fourth intercostal space along the left sternal border and increases with inspiration.
Diagnostic Options
Chest Radiography
Chest radiography of patients with pulmonic regurgitation with tricuspid regurgitation may demonstrate cardiomegaly and enlargement of the right-sided heart contour. Pure pulmonic regurgitation may to have specific signs on chest radiography. Prominent central pulmonary arteries with enlarged hilar vessels and loss of vascularity in the peripheral lung fields suggest severe pulmonary hypertension.
Electrocardiography
Signs of right ventricular hypertrophy can be seen on the Electrocardiogram if pulmonary hypertension is present including a tall R wave in V1 or qR in V1, R wave greater than S wave in V1, R wave progression reversal in the precordial leads and Right axis deviation. A right bundle branch block can be present.
Echocardiography
Echodoppler is the main diagnostic tool for recognizing pulmonic regurgitation. Regurgitant jet and velocity is visualized by Doppler. The width of the regurgitating jet can be used to quantify the severity. Diastolic regurgitation as well as early peak flow velocity in systole suggests the presence of pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiography can reveal right ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation. Right ventricular volume overload is characterized by abnormal septal wall motion. Structural abnormalities of the pulmonic valve or congenital absence of the valve can be demonstrated by echocardiography.
Treatment
The right ventricle normally adapts to low-pressure volume, high-pressure volume overload in contrast, ultimately leads to heart failure. Determining the underlying cause of pulmonic regurgitation and possible coexisting pulmonary hypertension is essential for appropriate therapy. Treating the cause of pulmonary hypertension can relieve symptoms and decrease the severity of PR If medical management is insufficient, surgical treatment options should be evaluated. The presence of severe right heart failure due to pulmonic regurgitation surgical pulmonic valve reconstruction or replacement can be considered.