COMPARISON OF OPERATION AND CLINICAL FINDINGS IN MITRAL STENOSIS AND INCOMPETENCE

Abstract

Experience gained with surgical treatment of the diseased mitral valve has increased our know- ledge ofits function. At operation the surgeon can observe the character and degree ofthe pulsation of the atrium, and on opening the atrium he can judge with his finger the size of the valve orifice, the state of the valve cusps, and whether or not a regurgitant stream can be felt. Direct measure- ments of the pressure within the heart chambers can be made. It is therefore possible to compare