Differentiation of aortic and mitral valve prostheses based on postoperative frontal chest radiographs

The authors reviewed the postoperative frontal chest radiographs of 77 patients given aortic or mitral prostheses in one year and evaluated the criteria for distinguishing between the two: position (cephalocaudal or transverse), orientation (vertical or horizontal), orifice (en face or in profile), direction of flow through the valve (toward the cardiac apex or ascending aorta), and information given on the consultation form. 91% of patients had at least one form containing incomplete or incorrect information. Direction of flow appears to be the best criterion, being discernible in all Starr-Edwards and most Björk-Shiley prostheses; orifice and orientation are considerably less reliable, while position is totally unreliable.