Two-dimensional echocardiographic estimation of the size of the mitral valve annulus

The diameter of the mitral annulus as measured on the long axis by two-dimensional echocardiogram was found to correlate well with the size of the sewing ring used to replace the mitral valve in 35 consecutive patients. The size of the prosthesis which was used could be predicted within 1 mm of error in 83% of the mitral stenosis (MS) patients and in 76% of the mitral regurgitation (MR) patients in the study. Preoperative echocardiographic estimation of the size of the mitral valve annulus and prediction of the sewing ring size of the prosthetic valve used could reduce the incidence of valve prosthesis-patient mismatch.