PULMONARY VENOUS FLOW DETERMINED BY DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN MITRAL-STENOSIS

Recent studies have shown that pulmonary venous flow is normally biphasic. Both phases depend on changes in left atrial pressure that occur during the cardiac cycle.1-3 The first phase corresponds to ventricular systole and is dependent on ventricular contraction and on a timed relaxation of the left atrium. The second phase occurs during diastole and follows the reduction in atrial pressure during the rapid transmitral flow and ventricular filling. In mitral stenosis (MS), flow rate across the mitral valve is reduced, as is the rate of left atrial pressure decay and left ventricular pressure rise.4 These changes in left atrial hemodynamics may affect left atrial filling from the pulmonary veins. Moreover, many patients with MS have atrial fibrillation. This arrythmia results in a reduced systolic (J) phase of pulmonary venous flow.1,5 The present study examines the pattern of pulmonary venous flow velocity in patients with MS. © 1990.