Diagnosis and hemodynamic assessment of valvular heart disease.

This paper will discuss the contribution of nonultrasonic methods to the diagnosis and the hemodynamic assessment of valvular heart disease as it has been discussed in the literature since the end of 1989. From recently published papers, several topics can be developed: the continuing importance of evaluating symptoms, the possible end of the epidemic of mitral valve prolapse, the persisting value of invasive assessment in case of inadequate Doppler echocardiographic examination, the need for coronary angiogram before surgery, the assessment of the left ventricular function, and the relation between fluid mechanics and new diagnostic modalities.