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Erschienen in: Journal of Echocardiography 3/2018

23.02.2018 | Review Article

The mystery of defining aortic valve area: what have we learnt from three-dimensional imaging modalities?

verfasst von: Ebraham Alskaf, Attila Kardos

Erschienen in: Journal of Echocardiography | Ausgabe 3/2018

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Abstract

Aortic valve area is one of the main criteria used by echocardiography to determine the degree of valvular aortic stenosis, and it is calculated using the continuity equation which assumes that the flow volume of blood is equal at two points, the aortic valve area and the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The main fallacy of this equation is the assumption that the LVOT area which is used to calculate the flow volume at the LVOT level is circular, where it is often an ellipse and sometimes irregular. The aim of this review is to explain the physiology of the continuity equation, the different sources of errors, the added benefits of using three-dimensional imaging modalities to measure LVOT area, the latest recommendations related to valvular aortic stenosis, and to introduce future perspectives. A literature review of studies comparing aortic valve area and LVOT area, after using three-dimensional data, has shown underestimation of both measurements when using the continuity equation. This has more impact on patients with discordant echocardiographic measurements when aortic valve area is disproportionate to haemodynamic measurements in assessing the degree of aortic stenosis. Although fusion imaging modalities of LVOT area can help in certain group of patients to address the issue of aortic valve area underestimation, further research on introducing a correction factor to the conventional continuity equation might be more rewarding, saving patients additional tests and potential radiation, with no clear evidence of cost-effectiveness.
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Metadaten
Titel
The mystery of defining aortic valve area: what have we learnt from three-dimensional imaging modalities?
verfasst von
Ebraham Alskaf
Attila Kardos
Publikationsdatum
23.02.2018
Verlag
Springer Japan
Erschienen in
Journal of Echocardiography / Ausgabe 3/2018
Print ISSN: 1349-0222
Elektronische ISSN: 1880-344X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12574-018-0374-8

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