The haemodynamics of mitral stenosis before and after commissurotomy.

Clinical changes following mitral valvotomy are sometimes difficult to evaluate. The need for an objective method in assessing the effectiveness of surgery is apparent, and the value of combined heart catheterization in appraising the hemodynamics of mitral stenosis has been reported (Goldberg et al., 1955, 1956). A total of 58 patients have been studied by this procedure, 16 of them after as well as before mitral valvotomy. The importance of the combined technique can be readily appreciated, particularly in assessing the changes of pressure gradient and flow across the involved valve. Comparison of the data with those previously obtained by right heart catheterization alone has yielded significant differences and provides additional support for the continued use of this new technique.