Echocardiography in the Diagnosis of Congenital Mitral Stenosis and in Evaluation of the Results of Mitral Valvotomy

Abstract

Seven patients with congenital mitral stenosis have been investigated with echocardiography using reflected ultrasound. In all cases the mitral stenosis was combined with other cardiovascular malformations. The results are compared with those obtained at clinical investigation, cardiac catheterization, and operation and/or autopsy. It is concluded that the method is of definite value in diagnosing congenital mitral stenosis, even when this is combined with other cardiovascular malformations. The method is also found to be of value in assessing the severity of mitral stenosis.Three patients have been investigated after mitral valvotomy. It is concluded that the findings at echocardiographic examination agree quite well with the clinical findings and with the results of postoperative cardiac catheterization in the evaluation of the result of mitral valvotomy.

Ultrasonic Studies on Endocardial Fibroelastosis

“…The DDR of the anterior mitral leaflet represented the motility of this structure. Its normal range was reported to be between 80 to 200 mm/sec by several authors, and it decreased in the case of mitral stenosis (Gustafson et al 1967;Edler 1967;Effert 1976;Lundstrom 1972). In Cases 1 and 2, which were still suffering from congestive heart failure, the values were smaller (58 mm/sec and 35 mm/sec, respectively) than in the other cases which presented normal values (140 mm/sec and 83 mm/sec).…”