Two dimensional echocardiography in valvular heart disease.

From October 1, 1979 to June 30, 1980, 890 2D echocardiographic examinations were performed. Of these, 221 showed valvular lesions with predominant rheumatic aetiology. The valvular lesions encountered were pure mitral stenosis, pure mitral insufficiency, mixed mitral stenosis and insufficiency, aortic incompetence, aortic stenosis, mitral valve prolapse and left atrial thrombus. It is concluded that 2D echo imaging should in due time provide the "gold standard" for the evaluation of valvular lesions.