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Repeated echocardiographic imaging of aortic stenosis: Real-life lessons
  • Jonathan Bray,
  • Adrian Ionescu
Jonathan Bray
Swansea University Medical School

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Adrian Ionescu
Regional Cardiac Center Morriston
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Abstract

Background Timing of aortic valve intervention is dependent on the accuracy and reproducibility of echocardiographic (ECHO) parameters. We aimed to assess haemodynamic subsets of aortic stenosis (AS), their change over time, and variability of ECHO parameters. Method This retrospective, longitudinal study compared sequential ECHO over 15 months to identify concordant or discordant aortic valve area (AVA) and mean pressure gradient (MPG). Results We included 143 patients with a mean age of 76.0 years. The median length of time between studies was 112 days (IQR 38-208). Initially participants were classified as 10 (7.0%) mild, 49 (34.3%) moderate and 84 (58.7%) severe AS. In 80 (55.9%) AVA and MPG were concordant; stroke volume index (SVi) was <35ml/m2 in 53 (74.6%). AS severity was downgraded in 33 (23.1%) patients. MPG was most consistent and AVA was the least consistent between successive investigations (intraclass correlation coefficients R=0.86 and R=0.76, respectively). Even small variations in left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) measurement of 1 standard deviation reclassified up to 67% of participants from severe to non-severe. Conclusion Almost half of patients with AS have valve area/gradient discordance. Variations in LVOT diameter measurement commensurate with clinical practice reclassified AS severity in up to 2/3 of cases. Change in AS severity should only be accepted following careful scrutiny of all available ECHO data.
03 May 2021Submitted to Echocardiography
03 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
03 May 2021Assigned to Editor
04 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
23 Jun 20211st Revision Received
25 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
25 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
01 Jul 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
09 Sep 20212nd Revision Received
09 Sep 2021Submission Checks Completed
09 Sep 2021Assigned to Editor
09 Sep 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Nov 2021Published in Echocardiography volume 38 issue 11 on pages 1854-1859. 10.1111/echo.15222