Effect of general anesthesia on the severity of mitral regurgitation by transesophageal echocardiography.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-15-2000

Abstract

The effect of general anesthesia on the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR) was examined in 43 patients with moderate or severe MR who underwent preoperative and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions were significantly lower during the intraoperative study, reflecting altered loading conditions. The mean color Doppler jet area and mean vena contracta decreased and the mean pulmonary venous flow pattern changed from reversed to blunted, reflecting a significant reduction in the severity of MR. Overall, 22 of the 43 patients (51%) improved at least 1 MR severity grade when assessed under general anesthesia. Thus, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography may significantly underestimate the severity of MR. A thorough preoperative assessment is preferable when deciding whether to perform mitral valve surgery.

Volume

85

Issue

2

First Page

199

Last Page

203

ISSN

0002-9149

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

10955377

Department(s)

Department of Medicine

Document Type

Article

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