Why Is This Happening Now

Abstract

The unusual timing of an otherwise appearing “insignificant” flow can be a clue to various underlying pathologies and should be thoroughly interrogated and investigated. While these abnormal flows may not be clinically important in and of themselves (e.g., may not cause volume overload or increase in filling pressures), understanding the cause of the abnormal timing is important, as it may clarify the underlying pathology. Diastolic mitral regurgitation is an example of such an abnormally timed event; understanding the mechanism and pressure relationships that result in diastolic MR can help shed light on the pathology causing it.