[Echocardiographic study of bioprostheses in the mitral position (author's transl)]

Eighteen patients, with a Hancock heterograft in the mitral position, were analyzed by means of phonocardiography and echocardiography. Phonocardiography examination failed to show any pathologic data; by echocardiography the Authors succeeded in pointing out one case of malfunctioning prosthesis (verified by autopsy) and two cases suspected of malfunctioning prosthesis. The AA. conclude by confirming validity and perspectives of echocardiography in this field, to get even beginning deteriorations of bioprosthesis function.