40 female and male dogs of different age and breed with chronic mitral
-valve insufficiency were examined by means of clinical-cardiological
methods. These results were compared with M-mode, two dimensional (2-D
E) and doppler ultrasound techniques. The four groups of mitral-valve
insufficiency (ETTINGER, 1989) showed the importance of clinical evalu
ation, especially in group I. The location of the maximum sound-intens
ity was found to be different from the location of the mitral valve-mu
rmur established by JAKSCH und GLAWISCHNIG (1990). Sound radiation at
the apex cordis was a common diagnosis. Left atrial enlargement was fo
und at degree 3 of the murmur. The ECG results are demonstrated for ea
ch clinical group. Early diagnosis of left heart enlargement in group
I was the domaine of radiologic and doppler-ultrasound techniques. Lef
t ventricular measurements were obtained by means of M-mode ultrasound
. There was no significance change of Ventricular internal dimensions
exept in group I. Shortening fraction (SF in %) demonstrated the stage
of compensation or decompensation. 2-DE-results showed significant pr
ogression in the stage of the disease. Left atrial dimensions increase
d in progressive mitral valve insufficiency. Left atrial right-to left
line (LA Right-Left) was found to be the ideal guideline for document
ation of left atrial enlargement. The left atrial-aortic ratio (LA/AO)
showed significant increase ony in group III and IV. Color-flow mappi
ng doppler dedected regurgitation was obtained in early stages of the
disease.