Echocardiographic assessment of valve stenosis: EAE/ASE recommendations for clinical practice.

AR = aortic regurgitation AS = aortic stenosis AVA = aortic valve area CSA = cross sectional area CWD = continuous wave Doppler D = diameter HOCM = hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy LV = left ventricle LVOT = left ventricular outflow tract MR = mitral regurgitation MS = mitral stenosis MVA = mitral valve area ΔP = pressure gradient RV = right ventricle RVOT = right ventricular outflow tract SV = stroke volume TEE = transesophageal echocardiography T 1/2 = pressure half-time TR = tricuspid regurgitation TS = tricuspid stenosis V = velocity VSD = ventricular septal defect VTI =velocity time integral Valve stenosis is a common heart disorder and an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography has become the key tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of valve disease, and is the primary non-invasive imaging method for valve stenosis assessment. Clinical decision-making is based on echocardiographic assessment of the severity of valve stenosis, so it is essential that standards be adopted to maintain accuracy and consistency across echocardiographic laboratories when assessing and reporting valve stenosis. The aim of this paper was to detail the recommended approach to the echocardiographic evaluation of valve stenosis, including recommendations for specific measures of stenosis severity, details of data acquisition and measurement, and grading of severity. These recommendations are based on the scientific literature and on the consensus of a panel of experts. This document discusses a number of proposed methods for evaluation of stenosis severity. On the basis of a comprehensive literature review and expert consensus, these methods were categorized for clinical practice as: