[Transesophageal echocardiographic findings of mitral valve prolapse]

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a new approach to the investigation of the heart, at a closer range without interference from lung tissue or ribs. In this study, we evaluated 15 patients with mitral valve prolapse by TEE. All patients had a pansystolic murmur and severe mitral regurgitation by left ventriculography. Seven patients underwent cardiac surgery. The presence of ruptured chordae tendineae was confirmed in all these patients at the time of operation. The transesophageal echocardiographic finding of mitral valve prolapse was a circular or coiled cusp or whip-like protrusion of a scallop into the left atrium in systole. TEE disclosed ruptured chordae tendineae in all of the seven patients with ruptured chordae tendineae confirmed by surgery, whereas transthoracic echocardiography disclosed only one. In the remaining patients, TEE disclosed chordal rupture in six. The prolapsed sites by TEE were coincident with those by cardiac surgery in each patient. By three-dimensional construction of the mitral valve using TEE, the direction of mitral regurgitant jet was correctly visualized. In conclusion, TEE is useful in evaluating patients with mitral valve prolapse and is a sensitive method for detecting ruptured chordae tendineae.