Transatrial atrioventricular valve testing in the beating, fully loaded heart

A detailed technique is described to safely inspect visually the function of the atrioventricular (mitral, common atrioventricular, or tricuspid) valve in the beating, fully loaded, but not ejecting left or right ventricle. The heartbeat is reestablished while the ascending aorta is kept cross-clamped and air from the ascending aorta is vented out. The left or right ventricle is filled via a 6-mm internal diameter tube derived from the arterial return line. To allow filling of the right ventricle for tricuspid valve evaluation, the pulmonary artery is snared down in addition.