DETERMINATION OF PREOPERATIVE AND POST-OPERATIVE FLOW OBSTRUCTION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CLOSED MITRAL COMMISSUROTOMY FROM NON-INVASIVE ULTRASOUND DOPPLER DATA AND CARDIAC-OUTPUT

A non-invasive ultrasound Doppler system and an indwelling thermodilution catheter system were used to determine the pre- and postoperative mitral flow obstruction in eight adults undergoing closed mitral commissurotomy. The effective valve area (Ae) was used as a measure of the obstruction. In the eight patients Ae was 1.08 ± 0.34(SD) cm.2 preoperatively and increased to 1.71 ± 0.43(SD) cm.2 postoperatively. The technique used in the investigation appears useful for the evaluation of surgical procedures designed to reduce the mitral flow obstruction. © 1979.