2.2. Echocardiographic studies
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was routinely performed before and
7-14 days after mitral valve repair. Left ventricular (LV) diastolic
dimension, LV systolic dimension, indexed LV mass, LV ejection fraction
(EF), LA dimension, the severity of MR (none, mild, moderate or severe),
mean transmitral pressure gradient (TMPG), the severity of tricuspid
regurgitation (none, mild, moderate or severe) and peak systolic
transtricuspid pressure gradient were evaluated according to the
guidelines.4-7 Post-operative functional MS was
considered significant when a mean TMPG was ≥ 5 mmHg, despite the
absence of apparent sclerosis of the leaflets or a moderate or more
degree of residual MR. The aorto-mitral angle was measured from the
recorded digital images as the intersection angle of the mitral annulus
ring and aortic valve plane at end-diastolic on parasternal long axis
images, as shown in Figure 1.3