VALIDATION OF FLOW CONVERGENCE REGION METHOD IN ASSESSING MITRAL-VALVE AREA IN THE COURSE OF TRANSTHORACIC AND TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC STUDIES

The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of flo w convergence region method (FCR) to complement well-accepted techniqu es in assessing mitral valve area (MVA). Fifty-three patients (39 wome n, 14 men) were enrolled in the study, Transesophogeal echocardiograph y (TEE) was performed after transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) eval uation, and all measurements were performed for each patient. Mean MVA values determined by different methods both in TEE and TTE studies di d not differ (p = not significant), In 51 (96%) patients, TEE and TTE were feasible and measurements of MVA with FCR correlated well with th e conventional methods (r = 0.87, standard error of the estimate = 0.1 3 cm(2)), In TEE, MVA determined by FCR also correlated well with that obtained by the ''pressure half time'' method (r = 0.90, standard err or of the estimate = 0.11 cm(2)). Results of our study confirmed the f easibility and accuracy of FCR. Because TEE provides reliable estimati on of MVA by FCR, intraoperative monitoring by TEE should be considere d as a comparative alternative method.