1.2\ Parasternal Left Ventricular

Long-Axis-View M-Mode, Echo

Pattern of Mitral Valve

Fig. 6.2  Parasternal left ventricular long-axis-view M-mode, echo pattern of mitral valve

1.2.1\ Scanning Method

The patient lies flat or on the left side. The transducer is placed at the area about 1–2 cm away from the left sternal margin (the third to fourth intercostal space). Along the long axis of heart, scan beam, which should be as perpendicular to the atrial-ven- tricular walls as possible, moves from aortic root to mitral valve until the M-mode cursor passes through the tip of the mitral valve leaflets.

1.2.2\ Section Structure

From the near to the distant, anterior chest wall, right ventricle, interventricular septum, left ventricular outflow tract, mitral valve leaflets, left ventricular posterior wall, and left atrial posterior wall near the mitral valve annulus are shown sequentially in the form of M-mode tracing.

1.2.3\ Measuring Method and Normal Value

Following values represent the normal anterior to the posterior diameters of the right and left ventricular structures at mitral valve level: range of mitral valve opening: 22 ± 12 mm, descending velocity of anterior mitral valve (EF slope): 162 ± 18 mm/s, and E point of anterior mitral valve septum separation (EPSS): 3.9 ± 1.6 mm which is the distance between the anterior mitral valve and the interventricular septum in diastole.

1.2.4\ The Clinical Application

Thickness, echogenicity, and opening–closure of mitral leaflets are the main items to be observed in this view, which are helpful for the diagnosis of pathological states of mitral valve.