title: The role of echocardiography in the selection of mitral valve prosthesis.
abstract: Assessment of the left ventricular outflow tract was made echographically in 70 patients who subsequently received a mitral prosthesis. Group A (44 patients) had normal left ventricular outflow tract width (greater than 20 mm.); 13 received the Starr-Edwards prosthesis and nine received the Braunwald-Cutter prosthesis. There were two patients with low cardiac output syndrome and no hospital deaths. Group B (26 patients) had a narrow left ventricular outflow tract (less than 20 mm.). Thirteen patients received the Starr-Edwards prosthesis. One patient had low cardiac output syndrome, and there were no hospital deaths. We conclude that the use of the ball-and-cage prosthesis in the mitral position in patients with a narrowed left ventricular outflow tract (less than 20 mm.) measured echographically is not associated with an increased surgical risk.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D002302:Cardiac Output; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D009026:Mortality; D013577:Syndrome