ABSTRACT
The four cardiac valves normally open to allow unimpeded forward flow and close securely to prevent retrograde blood flow (Figure 7.1). Conditions that impair these two functions alter chamber sizes, cardiac function, and hemodynamics, in proportion to their severity. Doppler echocardiography is ideally suited to assess obstruction to forward flow, regurgitant flow, and their
consequent effects on cardiac architecture, function, and hemodynamics.
