Preoperative Evaluation of the Aortic Orifice at Left Ventricular Puncture

Abstract

The following paper deals with a study of 93 left ventricular punctures in 91 patients being assessed for operations on the aortic valve, measuring the pressure gradient above the valve by introducing a polyethylene catheter through the left ventricle into the aorta.

The method and complications arising are briefly discussed. The analysis shows that direct ventricular puncture is a quick and fully reliable method for gathering information in assessing indications for operation on the aortic valve.