Two-dimensional echocardiography for prediction of aortic valve prosthesis size. A comparative study of Medtronic-Hall and Carpentier-Edwards supra-annular valves.

To assess the value of two-dimensional echocardiography (2D ECHO) for predicting prosthetic aortic valve size, the diameter of the aortic annulus was measured before implantation of a Medtronic-Hall valve in 24 patients and a Carpentier-Edwards supra-annular valve in 34. In the Medtronic-Hall group, the average prosthesis size was similar to the average annulus diameter, i.e. 23.2 +/- 2.1 vs 23.0 +/- 3.4 mm (NS), 95% confidence interval for the difference -1.0-0.7 mm. In the Carpentier-Edwards group the corresponding figures were 23.5 +/- 2.1 and 22.0 +/- 2.3 mm (p < 0.001), with 95% confidence interval 0.9-2.0 mm. Correlation between annulus diameter indicated by preoperative 2D ECHO and prosthesis size was stronger in the Medtronic-Hall (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) than in the Carpentier-Edwards group (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). The authors conclude that prosthetic aortic valve size may be accurately predicted by 2D ECHO, with Medtronic-Hall valve size similar to, and Carpentier-Edwards prostheses on average 1-2 mm larger than the 2D ECHO-estimated annulus diameter.