Aortic Valve

  • LVOT diameter CSA measurements1 2
    • Made at the same level as the velocity recording
    • Used to calculate cross-sectional area (CSA)
      • Using inner edge of the septal endocardium and the anterior mitral leaflet in mid-systole
      • Parallel and adjacent to the aortic valve or at the site of velocity measurement
  • AV jet velocity measured by VTI
    • Velocity time integral (VTI) traced from the modal velocity
    • Maximum velocity obtained from the peak of dense velocity curve
  • Continuity Equation valve area
    • AVA = (\(CSA_{LVOT}\) x \(VTI_{LVOT}\))/\(VTI_{AV}\)
  • Velocity Ratio and VTI Ratio, Dimensionless Index (DI)
    • Used to reduce error related to LVOT area measurements (Removes LVOT CSA from Continuity Equation) to check AVA or when there is an prosthetic AV in place
    • Velocity Ratio = \(V_{LVOT}\)/\(V_{AV}\)