RAPID LEFT VENTRICULAR FILLING AND STASIS IN MITRAL REGURGITATION

Abstract

Left ventricular stasis marks the completion of a phase of rapid ventricular filling and is recognized by a rise in left atrial pressure from the nadir of the "y" descent to the inscription of the "c" or "a" wave. It is suggested that this rise in pressure be named the left atrial stasis wave. In a series of patients with mitral regurgitation a close association was found between the occurrence of a stasis wave and the presence of a third heart sound. Stasis waves were found in the left atrial pressure pulse tracings from 13 out of 14 patients with third heart sounds. In each case the mitral orifice long diameter measured 1.8 cm. or more. Neither stasis waves nor third heart sounds were present in the patients with smaller orifices. The diagnosis of the stasis wave in clinical practice is discussed.