Echocardiogram of the Pulmonary Valve

Abstract

The echogram of the pulmonary valve was recorded in 11 normal subjects and in 70 patients with various underlying disease. On the routine examination, the detection of the pulmonary valve was about 20%, but the aimed study disclosed the valve more frequently. The technique was described in detail. The anterior wall of the pulmonary artery is located 1 to 2cm from the chest wall, and the posterior wall has wide and dense echoes. Ultrasound cardiotomography disclosed the lateral aspect of the left atrium behind the posterior wall. The pulmonary valve echo was generally weak and the left cusp was detected as a distinct echo, which moves posteriorly during systole. The echo was easily detected in cases with pulmonary hypertension, in which the anterior cusp was also depicted easily. The recording site was not so restricted in such cases. The pulmonary hypertension made the echo strong during both in systole and diastole, and gave the pattern of midsystolic semiclosure and diastolic plateau.