[Mitral valve and mitral ring movement in mitral stenosis. An ultrasonic study with different valve models (author's...

We constructed three different mitral valve models in order to investigate the different mechanisms which account for the concordant opening and closing movement of the posterior compared to the anterior mitral valve in mitral stenosis. Three different types of movements are possible: a dorso-anterior movement of the mitral ring, opening and closure of the valve itself and a rotation of the entire valve apparatus. Our in-vitro studies showed that the best explanation for the concordant diastolic movement of the posterior valve is given by the assumption that during the early diastolic opening phase of the valves the whole stenotic valve apparatus is rotated upward, i.e. towards the transducer. This rotation, has a higher amplitude compared to the residual downward-oriented opening movement of the posterior valve.