Diagnostic tests for mitral valve problems
Diagnostic tests for mitral valve stenosis Diagnostic test
What is it?
Measurements provided
Echocardiogram (echo) Ultrasound of the heart
- Opening and closing of valve
- Estimated valve area
- Pressure gradient
- Size of left ventricle
- Size of left atrium and whether blood clots (thrombosis) are found in left atrium
- Rate of blood flow
- Volume of blood flow
- Direction of blood flow
- Blood pressure in lungs (indirectly)
- The amount of calcification on mitral valve structures
Cardiac catheterization Invasive exam of the heart
- Mitral valve area
- Pressure gradient
- Size and function of ventricle
- Blood pressure in lungs
Ventriculogram (generally done as part of a cardiac catheterization)
Dye injection and image of left ventricle
- Volume of blood flowing through mitral valve
- Volume of blood leaking back through mitral valve
- Size and function of left ventricle
Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) Measurement of the heart's electrical signal
- Size of left atrium (indirectly)
- Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
- Pressure in pulmonary arteries
Chest X-ray X-ray of the chest
- Estimated size of heart chambers
- Valve calcification
- Degree of lung congestion
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: March 18, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
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