MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF MITRAL VALVE ORIFICE AN ECHO CARDIOGRAPHIC STUDY

Abstract

Effective functioning of the heart depends on proper functioning of four valves mitral , tricuspid , aortic and pulmonary valves. A diseased valve may  produce conditions known as “stenosis“ or “regurgitation” .  The most important cause of valvular morbidity in developing countries like India is chronic rheumatic heart disease caused by streptococcal infection. Mitral valve is the commonly effected valve among four cardiac valves .Important aspect of management of valvular heart disease is replacement of diseased valve by a prosthetic valve surgically (i.e. valvular reconstruction). This needs accurate assessment of valvular area, circumference and various other measurements.  In this study of fifty cases of different age groups of both sexes, it was attempted to  assess  the measurement of mitral  valvular area and circumference and compare with that of previous studies for standardization which can help in prosthetic valve manufacturing. In this study, echocardiography (ECHO) was chosen as a tool for measuring valvular areas, as it is a safe, painless noninvasive means.