[Echocardiographic diagnosis of the mitral valve cusp flotation syndrome]

The flotation of the mitral cusps is one of the forms of non-rheumatic mitral regurgitation due to disorders in the chordal fixation of the cusps. The authors have examined 26 patients with echocardiographic signs of flotation of the anterior or posterior mitral cusps. In 21 patients there was flotation of the posterior cusp and 5 had flotation of both the cusps. The comparative diagnostic value of separate echocardiographic signs of flotation of the anterior and posterior cusps of the mitral valve is discussed. It is stressed that echocardiography is a valuable method of investigation.