September 1, 1963CirculationOpen Access

Mitral Valve Area: Measurement Soon After Catheterization

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Why the study?

How does postmortem measurement of mitral valve area compare to estimation by cardiac catheterization?

Structured PICO

How does postmortem measurement of mitral valve area compare to estimation by cardiac catheterization?

Population

Patient(s) who underwent cardiac catheterization for mitral valve area estimation and subsequently had postmortem measurement shortly after, without complicating influences such as surgery or endocarditis.

Intervention

Postmortem measurement of mitral valve area

Comparator

Estimation of mitral valve area by cardiac catheterization

Outcome

Difference between postmortem measurement and catheterization estimation of mitral valve areasurrogate

Postmortem measurement of mitral valve area was found to be significantly larger (75-213%) than estimates derived from cardiac catheterization.

Implication

Cath MVA may underestimate true orifice area; single case leaves measurement accuracy open for validation.

Abstract

A rare opportunity to measure mitral valve area at autopsy shortly after its estimation by means of cardiac catheterization was afforded without the complicating influences of surgery, subacute bacterial endocarditis, smouldering rheumatic valvulitis, or a long enough time interval between catheterization and postmortem study for increased stenosis or increased cardiomegaly to occur. The postmortem estimation of mitral valve area varied between 75 and 213 per cent greater than the mitral valve area estimated from cardiac catheterization data.