Mitral incompetence
Rheumatic etiology is the commonest cause in developing countries. It takes
several years to develop mitral valvular lesions. The typical symptoms are due
to pulmonary edema and reduced cardiac output. The specific clinical signs are:
displaced apex beat out side the midclavicular line and apical pansystolic murmur
radiating towards the axilla. The chest x-ray shows: enlarged left atrium, prominent
pulmonary conus, enlarged left ventricle making the straight left heart border
and plethoric lung fields.
