Can a mini echo test ( in hospital) rule out mitral valve prolapse or mitral stenosis? the doctor did an ultrasound last night and said everything looked good. can't afford full echo but he said i need one to fully rule out any valve problem

A full exam: Using Radiology based ECHO/ULTRASOUND equipment is necessary to complteley rule out any cardiac valve pathology but the "mini-echo office based" equipment can detect SIGNIFICANT issues! Hope this helps! Need more information to comment more about this! Hope this helps Dr Z

Echo : A pocket echo done by a cardiologist who has examined the patient can give reasonable assurance about valves being normal. If a question remains, a detailed full size echo would be needed. A quick look by a noncardiologist could be less reliable.

Yes: An echocardiogram (US be it a focused study of mitral valve with handheld machine or traditional US), can definitvely evaluate mitral valve prolapse and mitral stenosis if study done well.

Did he listen to you: Usually people with MVP are a symptomatic . Mitral stenosis is a narrowing of the opening where the valve is. The excuse sounds fishy to me. NYC has great places for cardiology. Go to one of those.

Careful. Always get: a copy, view the echo video images yourself & work to understand. Echo quality varies extremely widely, Mitral valve usually viewed from 4 viewpoints (short & long axis, apical & subcostal) in usual transthoracic echos. Mitral prolapse is a visual judgement, widely varying by viewer & rarely of real importance long term. Mitral leak & amount=important issue, Mitral stenosis=rare & very important.

Poor test: Why did the doc dis the test for the first time See a specialist ask for referral to a radiologist// cardiologist for detailed examination if needed - a board certified trained physician to interpret the test