Impact of effective valvotomy in mitral stenosis on pulmonary venous flow pattern.

Aims: Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography (TEE) is a useful tool to investigate pulmonary venous flow (PVF) velocity, which is altered in patients with mitral stenosis (MS). This study used TEE to analyze the variations in the PVF pattern after successful valvar dilatation in MS patients.

Methods/results: A total of 15 MS patients, mean age 27.

Transesophageal echocardiography discloses unexpected cardiac sources of embolus in stroke patients aged more than 45 years.

Unlabelled: Cerebral embolism from cardiac source is an important cause of stroke, specially in patients younger than 45 years old.

Objective: To describe the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) findings in young and non-young stroke patients without any prior evidence of cardiac source for cerebral embolism.

Method: Transversal study: 523 patients (267 men and 256 women) with ischemic stroke, without any evidence of cardiac abnormality, underwent to TEE.

[Functional assessment of the left atrial appendage with transesophageal echocardiography before and after percutaneous valvotomy in the mitral stenosis].

Objective: To assess the effects of the relief of the mitral stenosis by percutaneous ballon valvotomy in the function of the left atrial appendage.

Methods: Twelve patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis, in sinus rhythm, were studied. They were submitted to the transesophageal echocardiogram before and after effective percutaneous ballon valvotomy.