High frequency oscillations of the pulmonary valve leaflet in double-chamber right ventricle

The abnormal pulmonary valve echocardiographic tracing in a patient with a double-chambered right ventricle is presented. Preoperatively, the posterior pulmonary valve leaflet demonstrated a partial closure in systole, followed by coarse fluttering of the leaflet. The postoperative echocardiographic tracing of the pulmonary valve was normal. It is suggested that an obstructive process proximal to either semilunar valve which converts laminar flow to turbulent flow is capable of producing a similar pattern in the leaflets during ventricular ejection.