[Are invasive studies advisable in evaluating heart valve diseases?].
The scope of acquired valvular heart diseases has evolved in France during the past 15 years towards a regression of the rheumatoid etiology with emphasis on degenerative and dystrophic diseases. At the same time, the evaluation of valvular diseases has benefited from the considerable advances in isotopic and mostly ultrasonic non-invasive techniques, not to mention more sophisticated techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging still infrequently used. The different technical variation of sonocardiography, from the TM and bidimensional sonography to transesophageal sonography and continuous and color coded pulsed echo-Doppler, provide reliable answers to the various questions raised before considering a surgical procedure. The remaining role of invasive techniques, such as cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography, considered as the "gold standard" until recently, and reviewed for each valvular disease whether isolated or combined, is becoming more and more restricted. Only coronary angiography remaining the undisputed and absolutely necessary test in case of angina, complications of myocardial infarction, risk or age factors.
Bensaid
J
J
Clinique Médicale Cardiologique, CHU Dupuytren, Limoges.
Gueret
P
P
Virot
P
P
D000790:Angiocardiography; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans
Est-il opportun de réaliser des explorations invasives dans l'évaluation des valvulopathies?