ValueofTwo-dimensional Echocardiography inDetecting Tricuspid Stenosis

SUMMARY WereviewedtheM-modeandtwo-dimensionalechocardiogramsof100consecutivepatientswithrheumaticheartdisease.All were subsequentlystudiedbycardiaccatheterizationandangiography.Infour patients, cardiac catheterization showedtricuspid stenosis (average mean diastolic gradient6.2 mm Hg), which was confirmed during cardiac surgery. M-modeechocardiography showed a diminished EFslopein 12patients(mean26 mm/sec), includingthefourpatientswithtricuspidstenosis. Sevenoftheeightpatientswithouttricuspidstenosishadsignificantpulmonaryhypertension; the reasons for thediminishedEFslopeintheotherpatientcouldnotbeidentified. Tricuspidstenosis was diagnosedinfourpatientsfromtwo-dimensional echocardiograms on the basis of diastolic doming and restricted leaflet motion of thetricuspid valve. Thesefour patients were the same patients in whomtricuspid stenosis was diagnosed bycardiaccatheterization. Weconcludethat two-dimensionalechocardiography is useful in the diagnosisoftricuspid stenosis. TRICUSPIDSTENOSISmaybe a difficult