Altered Mitral Inflow Orifice in Severe Aortic Regurgitation: Real Time Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Findings

Abstract

We present the case of a young man with severe eccentric aortic regurgitation, obstructing mitral inflow and provoking an audible Austin Flint murmur at clinical examination. Two-dimensional color Doppler echocardiography depicts the remarkable mechanical interaction between aortic regurgitant jet and anterior mitral leaflet opening. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography aids in understanding the geometric and hemodynamic consequences of the regurgitant jet and in the genesis of the Austin Flint murmur. This case accentuates the incremental value of three-dimensional echocardiography when evaluating valvular pathology, and offers more insight in the interaction between aortic regurgitant flow and mitral leaflet dynamics.