Mitral Stenosis: Learning Resources

MVA: The Primary Severity Anchor in Mitral Stenosis

A patient with MVA of 1.2 cm² has severe MS — even if the mean gradient is only 6 mmHg. The gradient tells you the pressure cost of flow at a given heart rate; it does not tell you how obstructed the valve is.

PHT in Mitral Stenosis: When to Trust It

PHT is one of the most common MVA measurements, but it is not the most reliable. Understanding the five pitfall conditions tells you when to seek a more direct measurement.

Discordant MS Hemodynamics: Very Severe MVA with Unexpectedly Low Gradient

You measure a MVA of 0.8 cm² by planimetry, but the mean gradient is only 7 mmHg in sinus rhythm with no documented low-flow state. This is not reassuring — it is discordant, and it needs explanation.

Mitral Stenosis Before Noncardiac Surgery: Hemodynamic Considerations

MS severity grade tells you how obstructed the valve is. It does not tell you whether a specific surgical procedure at a specific anesthetic risk is safe. That requires understanding the physiology.

Severe MS Without a Gradient: How the Tool Classifies It

MVA 1.2 cm² by planimetry in sinus rhythm, no mean gradient obtained. Does absent gradient downgrade reliable severe-range MVA?

PHT-Derived MVA in Atrial Fibrillation: When Confidence Drops

MVA 1.4 cm² measured by PHT in a patient with atrial fibrillation. Does the tool still classify this as severe?

Discordant MS Before Hip Replacement: Very Severe MVA, Unexpectedly Low Gradient

MVA 0.8 cm² by planimetry, mean gradient 7 mmHg, sinus rhythm, no documented low-flow state. Pre-surgical echo for elective hip replacement.