Noninvasive diagnostic evaluation of the normal Beall mitral prosthesis.

Phonocardiography and echocardiography were used to examine 20 patients with a normally functioning Beall disc mitral valve prosthesis. Phonocardiographic intervals were: Q-S1 interval 67 +/- 3 msec; A2-OC interval 118 +/- 8 msec. Maximal variation of the Q-S1 interval within one examination was 21 +/- 2 msec, for A2-OC interval it was 31 +/- 5 msec. Echocardiographic disc velocities were: opening velocity 296 +/- 30 mm/sec, closing velocity 414 +/- 44 mm/sec. Maximal variation of the opening velocity was 126 +/- 25 msec; maximal variation of the closing velocity was 334 +/- 57 msec. Abnormal poppet function was suspected in one patient with unusual prolongation and variability of A2-OC interval.