The Picard Maneuver

The Picard Maneuver is a diagnostic procedure used during a cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram) to assess a patient's heart function, particularly the left atrium and mitral valve. By asking the patient to swallow or perform a specific swallowing maneuver, clinicians observe changes in the heart’s size and blood flow. This helps evaluate how flexible the heart structures are and can identify issues like mitral valve problems or atrial enlargement. It's a non-invasive way to gather additional information about heart function related to swallowing and the movement of the heart's upper chambers.