Tomographic Evaluation of Hemodynamic Changes in Mitral Stenosis

The hemodynamic findings in 31 patients with mitral valvular disease were correlated with the signs obtained by chest tomography. The normal and pathologic findings are described. The advantages of the tomographic technic for the study of the pulmonary vasculature are pointed out. The progression of mitral valve narrowing was considered to be best related to the integrated picture of "impaired venous drainage." On this basis, three stages were defined. The over-all response of the pulmonary circulation to the severity of the disease can be judged by the pattern of blood vessels filling throughout the lung. It is concluded that for the evaluation of mitral valvular disease routine tomographic technic can indicate many of the essential hemodynamic findings with less hazard than either angiography or cardiac catheterization.