The major diagnostic tools for rheumatic heart disease are the chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). The echocardiogram allows measurement of the velocity and volume of the blood flow through the valves, whilst the chest X-ray in those with mitral insufficiency will show an enlargement of the left atrium and the left ventricle.
A cardiac catheterisation may also be performed to confirm the presence of the disease and to quantify its severity and effect on the heart. A small incision is made in a vessel in the groin, wrist or neck area before a guidewire is inserted and threaded through until the tip is just within the opening of one of the coronary arteries. A catheter is then threaded over the guidewire, and used to inject an X-ray dye into the artery to allow visualisation of the blood flow within the heart chambers.
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