Aortic valve disease

Echocardiography is the gold standard for the assessment of patients with aortic valve (AoV) disease. It allows a detailed morphological assessment of the AoV and thereby makes determination of the aetiology possible. In general, the quantification of aortic stenosis is based on the measurement of transaortic jet velocities and the calculation of AoV area, thus combining a flow-dependent and a flow-independent variable. In the setting of low-flow low-gradient AS, dobutamine echocardiography is of particular diagnostic and prognostic importance. The quantification of aortic regurgitation is based on qualitative and quantitative parameters. Awareness of potential pitfalls is fundamental. Haemodynamic consequences of AoV disease on left ventricular size, hypertrophy, and function as well as potentially coexisting valve lesions can be assessed simultaneously. In patients with AoV disease, predictors of outcome and indications for surgery are substantially defined by echocardiography.