[The retrograde catheterization of the aortic valve prosthesis. Usefulness and limits (author's transl)].

A retrograde catheterization of the left ventricle was performed in 10 patients with aortic valve prosthesis. The pulmonary wedge pressure increased during the procedure (median value 16 mmHg; range 1-33 mmHg). The sistolic aortic pressure (median value 26 mmHg; range 5-60 mmHg) and the diastolic aortic pressure (median value 16 mmHg; range 1-33 mmHg) decreased in all. In 5 patients a left ventriculography was performed. The left ventricle catheterization in patients with aortic valve prosthesis in the experience of the authors may preclude accurate hemodynamic measurements; it may be utilized only for the evaluation of an associated mitral valve disease.