Abstract

The anatomy of the left atrioventricular valve, a mitral valve unless there is atrioventricular discordance, was determined by cross sectional echocardiography in 15 young patients with congenital lesions and seven with rheumatic lesions. These results were compared with findings at operation. The preoperative diagnosis was accurate in 18 (80%). In the remaining four patients inaccurate echocardiographic diagnosis was due to the mistaken identification of clefts in redundant and multicuspid valves and of absent chordae that were thought to be ruptured chordae. In four patients a subvalvar abnormality was identified by echocardiography. With care, cross sectional echocardiography was a reliable method of defining abnormal anatomy in serious mitral disease and it predicted the need for replacement or the possibility of repair. In the absence of additional lesions invasive investigation was unnecessary.