Daniel Kalmanson, pioneer of intracardiac Doppler exploration in 1969: Emphasis on the first mitral and tricuspid flow velocity recordings

Intracardiac Doppler flow patterns remained unexplored until 1969, when Daniel Kalmanson could specify the features and physiological interpretation of intracardiac traces by mounting the new directional continuous-wave Doppler device on a catheter-tip. Within a year of time, he defined the continuum of changes from a three-waved venous inlet pattern (two positive S and D, one negative A) to a single systolic wave S at the arterial outlet. Moreover, the first descriptions of mitral and tricuspid Doppler flow traces were reported on man from 1969 (right heart) to 1972 (left heart). Pathophysiologic significance of their fundamental changes in pattern was specified in patients. Major clinical advances resulted from the integration of flow phenomena into physician's medical reasoning. (E-mail: colette.veyrat.resedal@noos.fr)