Comparison Study of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment of Mitral and Aortic Regurgitation
Comparison Study of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment of Mitral and Aortic Regurgitation
The primary treatment for patients determined to have severe aortic or mitral regurgitation
 is surgical repair or replacement their valves. The most commonly used tool to quantify the
 severity mitral and aortic regurgitation is echocardiography. Studies have shown that
 echocardiography may have significant limitations in quantifying regurgitant volume. MRI has
 recently been shown to easily and reproducibly quantify regurgitation. To better understand
 how to accurately quantify severity of regurgitation the investigators propose this study
 with the following aims: 1) compare MRI to echocardiography in the evaluation of regurgitant
 volume in patients with aortic or mitral regurgitation and 2) to assess which technique is
 better at predicting the response of the left ventricle to valve surgery.
The primary treatment for patients determined to have severe aortic or mitral regurgitation
 is surgical repair or replacement their valves. The most commonly used tool to quantify the
 severity mitral and aortic regurgitation is echocardiography. Studies have shown that
 echocardiography may have significant limitations in quantifying regurgitant volume. MRI has
 recently been shown to easily and reproducibly quantify regurgitation. To better understand
 how to accurately quantify severity of regurgitation the investigators propose this study
 with the following aims: 1) compare MRI to echocardiography in the evaluation of regurgitant
 volume in patients with aortic or mitral regurgitation and 2) to assess which technique is
 better at predicting the response of the left ventricle to valve surgery.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age ≥18 years of age

 -  Able to give informed consent

 -  Referred for isolated aortic or mitral valve repair or replacement due to valve
 regurgitation

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Inability to provide consent.

 -  Pregnancy

 -  Claustrophobia

 -  Metallic contraindications to MRI (e.g. noncompatible aneurysm clip etc)

 -  Known intracardiac shunt

 -  Planned concomitant cardiac surgical procedure such as coronary artery bypass, septal
 myomectomy, or other valve procedure.

 -  More than mild mitral or aortic stenosis.

 -  For patients enrolled with mitral regurgitation: greater than mild aortic
 regurgitation.

 -  For patients enrolled with aortic regurgitation: greater than mild mitral
 regurgitation.

 -  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.