COMBINED MITRAL AND AORTIC STENOSIS

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Abstract
Eight patients are described in whom combined mitral and aortic stenosis was present. Although the presence of both lesions was evident by auscultation, the patients'' symptoms and the radiographic and ecg findings were primarily those of mitral stenosis. Left heart catheterization in every patient revealed that both stenotic lesions were hemodynamically significant, each was treated by closed trans-ventricular dilatation of both the mitral and aortic valves. All patients are living and have experienced striking symptomatic improvement which has been reflected in the results of post-operative hemodynamic evaluations. The importance of left heart catheterization in the pre-operative assessment of patients with evidence of the combined lesions and the factors that influence the choice of the operative method employed in their treatment are discussed.