[The echocardiographic evaluation of valve prostheses].
Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were used to demonstrate prosthetic valve dysfunction in 134 patients with cardiac prosthetic valves in aortic, mitral and tricuspid position. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a high accuracy in the diagnosis of prosthetic valve dysfunction, especially in aortic position or when a stenosis was present. Transesophageal echocardiography allowed to verify the etiology and site of dysfunction and to show even minor leaks. Sixty-six patients underwent reoperation while 68 underwent a clinical and echocardiographic follow-up because only mild symptoms were present. Thus echocardiography represents the technique of choice in the follow-up of patients with prosthetic valves and it is able to help in decision making. However, cardiac catheterization is mandatory if a disagreement between clinical and echocardiographic data is present or when coronary artery disease is suspected or present.
Tartarini
G
G
Istituto di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi, Pisa.
Gnecco
G
G
Baglini
R
R
Pastorini
C
C
Caponnetto
S
S
Mariani
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
Valutazione ecocardiografica delle protesi valvolari.