Heart Valves

[DenTek]

what does mild (1+) tricuspid regurgation mean and mitral regurgation should
I be worried?

[DenTek]

I have mild regurgitation in the tricuspid valve at (1+) I also have aortic pressure at 140/80 with pressure in the left ventricle also at 140 I also
have right ventricular pressure of 31 mm/Hg Is that normal?  And left
ventricular end diastolic pressure at 14.  Is that normal.  I would ask the
Dr.  but he is out of the country for a month.  Nobody to take his place.
Thanks.

[DenTek]

I have mild regurgitation in the tricuspid valve at (1+) I also have aortic presurre at 140/80 with pressure in the left ventricle also at 140 I also
have right ventricular pressure of 31 mm/Hg Is that normal?  And left
ventricular end diastolic pressure at 14.  Is that normal.  I would ask the
Dr.  but he is out of the country for a month.  Nobody to take his place.
Thanks.

[skydnsr]

Oh, sorry, you asked what regurgitation means.  It means that some blood is flowing the wrong way back through the valve.  The valve is meant to allow blood to flow only one way -- that is, outward from the heart -- and if a valve is regurgitating, then there is a degree of backward blood flow.  In other words, the valve is leaking.  Again, mild is mild.  Not a lot of blood is flowing the wrong way, but some is -- enough that the doctors can see it on an echocardiogram.  Another word that you may hear, that means the same thing as regurgitation, is incompetence.  A regurgitating or incompetent valve is one that is leaking and allowing some blood to flow in the wrong direction, back into the heart.  This makes the heart work harder.

[skydnsr]

My standard answer is that no, you should not worry, because worry does not help anything.  What you should do is to carefully consider whatever it was that your doctor advised you to do about the situation, and follow through on treatment in cooperation with your doctor.  I'm guessing you probably have some symptoms, because without symptoms, you probably would not have had an echocardiogram.  Mild regurgitation is just that, mild, and if treatment is required, the treatment is usually limited to taking medication to control symptoms.  You don't mention how bad the mitral regurgitation was, and a lot depends on whether that was mild (or even trace), as well.  If neither valve was worse than mild, then you are probably looking at a regimen of medication and future monitoring.  Your job will be to take your medication and to tell the doctor how you are doing on your medication.  The doctor who follows you for this problem will probably need to be a cardiologist or at least an internist.  A GP or family practice doctor may not have the skills, and probably will not be comfortable, serving as your only doctor for this issue.