Echo features of aortic stenosis
                     ECHO FEATURES OF 
AORTIC STENOSIS
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What is Aortic Stenosis?
• Aortic valve stenosis or Aortic stenosis is a condition 
where the main artery of the heart, called Aorta gets 
narrowed.
•  This reduces or blocks the flow of blood from heart to the 
aorta, and to rest of  the body.
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What are the symptoms?
• Some symptoms may not be experienced for many years. 
The common symptoms are:
Abnormal heart sound (heart murmur)
Fatigue
Chest pain (angina)
Feeling dizzy and shortness of breath
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Complications of Aortic stenosis
• If left untreated, it may lead to:
Heart failure
Stroke
Internal bleeding
Death
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Diagnosis
• Doctors may suggest the patient to undergo one or more 
of the following tests:
Echocardiogram (Echo test)
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Cardiac catheterization (Angiogram)
Chest X-ray
CT Scan
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Echocardiogram features
• Echo test is mainly used to diagnose the severity of Aortic 
stenosis. It relies on three factors, peak velocity, mean 
pressure gradient (MPG) and aortic valve area (AVA).
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• The first two factors are directly measured using a 
continuous wave Doppler.
• AVA is determined based on continuity equation and 
diameter of the LVOT (Left Ventricular Outflow Tract).
• These parameters have a certain value indicating it as a 
mild, moderate or severe Aortic stenosis.
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Discordant grading
• During observation, if one parameter indicates moderate 
stenosis and other indicates severe, the method of discordant 
gradient has to be followed.
• By adjusting and substituting for errors caused in measuring 
LVOT diameter and continuous wave Doppler, the correct 
results are found.
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• Discordant gradient is common, hence a Computerized 
Tomography (CT) scan is conducted to determine 
anatomy of the aorta.
• ‘Calcium scoring’ is a method of assessment of Aortic 
valve calcification, which is the main cause of Aortic 
stenosis.
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• During Echocardiography, if discordant gradient is found, 
then patient has to undergo CT scan, where calcium 
scoring will indicate severity of Aortic stenosis.
• Calcium scoring is a flow-independent method of 
determining severity of Aortic stenosis.
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