Determination of the mitral valve area in isolated rheumatic mitral stenosis: a prospective study

ABSTRACT

In 15 patients undergoing closed mitral valvotomy for isolated mitral stenosis, the motral valve area was directly measured during operation prior to valvotomy. All patients had tight mitral stenosis ranging from 0.4 cm to 1.4 cm. The data obtained during operation were correlated with the echocardiographic and cardiac catheterization estimates of the mitral valve area before operation. It was found that, although the EF slope estimated by M-mode echo was reliable in diagnosing mitral stenosis, yet, it was inaccurate in predicting variations in the size of the stenotic valve. Left cardiac catheterization, on the other hand yielded more accurate and reliable values in predicting the severity of mitral stnosis