Valvular heart disease. A correctable cause of congestive heart failure.

Surgical repair of mitral, aortic, and tricuspid valves and balloon valvuloplasty for mitral stenosis are being done more and more often. These complex procedures require accurate and high-quality imaging techniques to guide the physician in decision making before surgery and in assessment of success during surgery. Dr Currie describes the use of echocardiography in diagnosis and management of patients with various forms of valvular heart disease.