Use of continuous wave Doppler echocardiography to evaluate the hemodynamic importance of atrial systole in patients with mitral stenosis.

Continuous wave Doppler echocardiography was used to assess the hemodynamic role of left atrial systole and its effect on left ventricular performance in 31 patients with isolated mitral stenosis. Fourteen of the patients had mild stenosis, whereas the remaining 17 had severe stenosis. The contribution of atrial systole to the cardiac output was 24% in the patients with mild stenosis and 15% in those with severe stenosis (p less than 0.01). This study reveals the importance of continuous wave Doppler echocardiography in assessing the atrial influence on left ventricular performance in patients with mitral stenosis.