[Evaluation of the function of mitral valve prosthesis by non-invasive methods]

The study was undertaken to examine the correlation between the parameters of central hemodynamics and mitral valve prosthesis functions which were obtained by invasive techniques, as well as these of physical working capacity, hemodynamics, and blood by noninvasive methods at rest and during bicycle ergometry in the graded exercise test. An examination was made of 24 patients every 0.5-8 years (mean 3.2 years) after replacement of mitral valves by xenobioprostheses. "Oxygen pulse" and cardiac index defined during exercise highly correlated with prosthetic mid-diastolic pressure gradients. A moderate correlation was found between dry erythrocytic mass and total pulmonary blood flow resistance. The findings may be useful for the early diagnosis of prosthetic dysfunctions.