TRANSESOPHAGEAL COLOR FLOW DOPPLER AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF NORMAL AND REGURGITANT ST-JUDE-MEDICAL PROSTHESES IN THE MITRAL-VALVE POSITION

Transthoracic echocardiography and color flow Doppler have been shown to be of value in evaluating regurgitant St. Jude Medical (SJM) prostheses in the aortic valve position.1 These studies have emphasized the limitations of this technique in diagnosing SJM mitral regurgitation because of flow masking and signal attenuation produced by the echo-reflective metallic valves.2 Transesophageal echocardiography and color flow Doppler overcome these problems and show promise in evaluating normal functioning and regurgitant SJM mitral valves.3,4 This report describes our transesophageal ultrasound experience with 28 normal functioning and 8 regurgitant SJM prostheses in the mitral valve position. © 1990.