Intra-operative ascending aortic flowmetry.

Intra-operative flowmetry was carried out before and after cardiopulmonary bypass in 34 patients who underwent aortic root surgery. Most of the patients had either aortic or combined aortic and mitral valve replacement. Flowmetry performed before and after the procedure proved to be a very useful diagnostic tool, particularly in evaluating the immediate postoperative haemodynamic performance of the replaced aortic valve and the completeness of the correction.