Use of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure to assess severity of mitral stenosis:Is true left atrial pressure needed in this condition?

There is disagreement concerning the use of the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (in place of left atrial pressure) in assessing the presence and severity of mitral valve disease. This study was done to assess the accuracy and reliability of an oximetrically confirmed pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in measuring the transvalvular pressure gradient and valve area in patients with mitral stenosis. In 10 patients with mitral stenosis (1 man...