Abstract
Delivering comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is challenging in remote locations, including remote Australian communities. Hand-held ultrasound devices are often used to screen young people at high risk for RHD and their utility is being extended to non-expert users with limited technical expertise. The 2023 WHF guidelines for diagnosis of rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) include a mean trans-mitral pressure gradient (TMPG) of ≥4mmHg in conjunction with restricted leaflet motion and reduced valve opening. Quantification of leaflet restriction may be a useful measurement, particularly for non-experts using hand-held devices.