Evaluation of the location of mitral valvular prolapse by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography

Objective To evaluate the localization of mitral valvular(MV)prolapse by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE),transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)and explore the interrelationship between the different subregions of MV prolapse and mitral regurgitation(MR).Methods Total of thirtythree patients with MV prolapse and more than moderate MR were included.TEE was used to further judge the location of scallop lesions and the result of both TTE and TEE were compared with the surgical findings respectively.The relationship between the different subregions of MV prolapse and MR was analyzed.Results Compared with the surgery findings,the accuracy rate of TTE and TEE in diagnosis of MV prolapse was 100％ qualitatively,80％ for TTE and 94％ for TEE in localizing the diseased region with the anterior and posterior MV,the result of TEE was significantly different from TTE(P＜0.05).MR level was related to the location of MV prolapse.Conclusions Compared with the TTE,TEE had more advantages in localizing the position of the MV prolapse.Mitral regurgitation is related to the location of MV prolapse. Key words: Echocardiography; Echocardiography,transesophageal; Mitral valve prolapse; Anatomical regions