[Critical study of echocardiography in mitral cardiopathies].

The importance of the echocardiogram in a study of mitral disorders has been analysed by examining 107 echocardiograms set against a clinical examination, an investigation of haemodynamic function (57), left-sided angiography (42), and/or examination at the time of operation (40). This study confirms the great diagnostic value of the echocardiographic findings in mitral stenosis (56 patients): the amplitude DE, the slope EF, the percentage of mid-diastolic closure, the echo from the valves, and the dimension of the left atria (P less than 0.001).

[Determination of myocardial contractility using ultrasonic echography].

Ultrasonic echography makes possible the recording of movements of the septum and posterior wall of the left ventricle. On graphic records of good quality it is thus possible to measure accurately the transverse diameter of the left ventricle throughout systole and to determine the average and maximal speeds of decreases in this diameter, which are proportional to the VCF. Echography, a non-invasive technique, thus gives data with regard to myocardial contractility of similar value to the information provided by cineangiocardiography.