[Clinical and functional correlations of left-atrial myocardial excursions in patients with mitral valve defects (I)].

Three types of atrial excursions correlating with the somatic symptoms of circulatory and respiratory dysfunctions, as well as with the degree of left atrial dilatation were intraoperatively recorded in patients with mitral valvular disease. Types I and II excursions were more common in patients with left atrioventricular stenosis, Type III in those with mitral incompetence. It is concluded that it is advisable to use left atrial myocardial excursion characteristics in the diagnosis of cardiac disease.