Diagnosis of Mitral Regurgitation by Cardioangiography

Abstract

To determine the feasibility of demonstrating mitral regurgitation by injection of contrast media into the left ventricle, percutaneous and subxiphoid left ventricular punctures were carried out in dogs and subsequently in human beings. Contrast media were injected and roentgenographic studies made. The correlation between the roentgenographic and subsequent anatomic findings at operation or autopsy is emphasized. The method appears to be relatively safe if proper safeguards are observed. The results indicate that the method is of value in determining the competence of the mitral valve and relative degree of insufficiency.