Value of a cinefluoroscopic assessment of the Lillehei-Kaster prosthetic heart valves.

In order to assess the functioning of the pivoting disc of the Lillehei-Kaster prosthetic valve, a cinefluoroscopic technique using multiple angulations was developed. The disc was detected in 240 (99%) of the 242 valves studied (126 aortic, 107 mitral, and nine tricuspid valves). The maximal-opening angle of the disc was measured in 75% of the aortic but only 20% of the mitral valve prostheses in the 182 valve studies in which this was attempted. Prosthetic dysfunctions were suspected clinically in three aortic and three tricuspid valves and confirmed with the cinefluoroscopic technique. This cinefluoroscopic approach constitutes a rapid, noninvasive, and sensitive evaluation of the function of the Lillehei-Kaster prosthetic valve in the aortic position.