Stress echocardiography in mitral stenosis: when is it useful?

f all valve lesions, mitral stenosis has the most options for ntervention and in many ways is the valve lesion where it is asiest to make a decision that intervention is necessary. his was the first acquired valve lesion where patient ymptoms and ultimate prognosis could be improved surgially even before cardiopulmonary bypass was available. The ndications for the timing of valve repair or replacement are ell presented in the American College of Cardiology/ merican Heart Association guidelines for the management f patients with valvular heart disease (1). Intervention is ecommended in symptomatic patients (New York Heart ssociation [NYHA] class II, III, and IV) with mitral tenosis and a mitral valve area of 1.5 cm (2). Intervention