echocardiography of prosthetic heart valves

Last reviewed 07/2021

• ultrasound is used for follow-up and investigation of valve malfunction
• because metallic components prevent the onward conduction of the ultrasound, artificial valves should be visualised in two perpendicular planes
• the diastolic and systolic positions of the valves may be assessed by ultrasound
• in the case of mitral-valve prostheses, transoesophageal echocardiography provides more functional and anatomical information than transthoracic echocardiography.