BACKGROUND: Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) measurement is a critical step in the quantification of aortic valve area. The assumption of a circular morphology of the LVOT may induce some errors. The aim of this study was to assess the three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the LVOT and its impact on grading aortic stenosis severity. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with aortic stenosis were studied retrospectively. LVOT dimensions were measured using 3D transesophageal echocardiography at three levels: at the hinge points (HP) of the aortic valve and at 4 and 8 mm proximal to the annular plane. Results were compared with standard two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements. RESULTS: Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography showed a funnel shape that was more circular at the HP and more elliptical at 4 and 8 mm proximal to the annular plane (circularity index = 0.92 vs 0.83 vs 0.76, P < .001). Cross-sectional area was smaller at the HP and larger at 4 and 8 mm from the annular plane (3.6 vs 3.9 vs 4.1 cm2, P = .001). The best correlation between two-dimensional and 3D transesophageal echocardiographic dimensions was at the HP (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59-0.86). When the HP approach was selected, there was a reduction in the percentage of patients with low flow (from 41% to 29%). CONCLUSIONS: A large portion of patients with aortic stenosis have funnel-shaped and elliptical LVOTs, a morphology that is more pronounced in the region farther from the annular plane. Two-dimensional LVOT measurement closer to the annular plane has the best correlation with 3D measurements. Measurement of the LVOT closer to the annular plane should be encouraged to reduce measurement errors.
BACKGROUND: Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) measurement is a critical step in the quantification of aortic valve area. The assumption of a circular morphology of the LVOT may induce some errors. The aim of this study was to assess the three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the LVOT and its impact on grading aortic stenosis severity. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with aortic stenosis were studied retrospectively. LVOT dimensions were measured using 3D transesophageal echocardiography at three levels: at the hinge points (HP) of the aortic valve and at 4 and 8 mm proximal to the annular plane. Results were compared with standard two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements. RESULTS: Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography showed a funnel shape that was more circular at the HP and more elliptical at 4 and 8 mm proximal to the annular plane (circularity index = 0.92 vs 0.83 vs 0.76, P < .001). Cross-sectional area was smaller at the HP and larger at 4 and 8 mm from the annular plane (3.6 vs 3.9 vs 4.1 cm2, P = .001). The best correlation between two-dimensional and 3D transesophageal echocardiographic dimensions was at the HP (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59-0.86). When the HP approach was selected, there was a reduction in the percentage of patients with low flow (from 41% to 29%). CONCLUSIONS: A large portion of patients with aortic stenosis have funnel-shaped and elliptical LVOTs, a morphology that is more pronounced in the region farther from the annular plane. Two-dimensional LVOT measurement closer to the annular plane has the best correlation with 3D measurements. Measurement of the LVOT closer to the annular plane should be encouraged to reduce measurement errors.
Authors: Sandro Queirós; Pedro Morais; Wolfgang Fehske; Alexandros Papachristidis; Jens-Uwe Voigt; Jaime C Fonseca; Jan D'hooge; João L Vilaça Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2019-01-30 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: Shiying Liu; Jessica Churchill; Lanqi Hua; Xin Zeng; Valerie Rhoades; Mayooran Namasivayam; Vinit Baliyan; Brian B Ghoshhajra; Tony Dong; Jacob P Dal-Bianco; Jonathan J Passeri; Robert A Levine; Judy Hung Journal: J Am Soc Echocardiogr Date: 2020-04 Impact factor: 5.251
Authors: Ana González-Mansilla; Pablo Martinez-Legazpi; Andrea Prieto; Elena Gomá; Pilar Haurigot; Candelas Pérez Del Villar; Victor Cuadrado; Antonia Delgado-Montero; Raquel Prieto; Teresa Mombiela; Esther Pérez-David; Elena Rodríguez González; Yolanda Benito; Raquel Yotti; Manuel Pérez-Vallina; Francisco Fernández-Avilés; Javier Bermejo Journal: Heart Date: 2019-02-16 Impact factor: 5.994
Authors: Andaleeb A Ahmed; Robina Matyal; Feroze Mahmood; Ruby Feng; Graham B Berry; Scott Gilleland; Kamal R Khabbaz Journal: Echo Res Pract Date: 2019-11-04