Two-dimensional echocardiography identified ruptured chordae tendineae in 5 patients, distinguishing it from valvular prolapse by showing rapid systolic motion of the leaflet tip.
Case Report (n=5)
Can two-dimensional echocardiography identify and distinguish ruptured chordae tendineae from valvular prolapse?
Two-dimensional echocardiography is a useful imaging modality for identifying flail mitral and tricuspid valves and distinguishing ruptured chordae from valvular prolapse.
Real-time, phased-array, two-dimensional echocardiographic studies identified ruptured chordae tendineae in five patients: four patients had a flail mitral valve and one had flail mitral and tricuspid valves. The characteristic abnormality was a rapid systolic motion of the involved leaflet beyond the line of valve closure into the atrium. The maximal abnormal systolic motion was greatest at the tip of the leaflet with a loss of the normal coaptation point. By contrast, the two-dimensional echocardiographic feature of mitral valve prolapse is an abnormal systolic motion that is maximal in the body of the leaflet with intact leaflet coaptation. Thus, two-dimensional echocardiography can identify flail mitral and tricuspid valves and is useful in distinguishing ruptured chorade from valvular prolapse.
Mintz et al. (Wed,) conducted a case report in Ruptured chordae tendineae (n=5). Two-dimensional echocardiography was evaluated on Identification of ruptured chordae tendineae and characteristic echocardiographic abnormalities. Two-dimensional echocardiography identified ruptured chordae tendineae in 5 patients, distinguishing it from valvular prolapse by showing rapid systolic motion of the leaflet tip.