[Echocardiography as primary diagnostic tool for valvular heart diseases].

Echocardiography is the method of choice for diagnostics and decision making in valvular heart diseases. It is a universally available diagnostic tool not limited by radiation exposure or toxicity of contrast agents. It is capable of displaying cardiac anatomy, function and blood flow allowing an integrative approach to diagnosing valvular heart diseases. Quantification of stenotic valve lesions by calculating the valve opening area is well established. On the other hand, quantification of valve regurgitation is more difficult as it relies on simplifications and assumptions on geometry of the regurgitation orifice and its boundaries. Three dimensional assessments of the regurgitation orifice and flow may improve the accuracy of grading of cardiac valve regurgitation.