Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9880
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2155-9880
+44 1300 500008
Gheorghe Cerin
San Gaudenzio Clinic, Italy
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Exp Cardiolog
Aortic stenosis (AS) has become the most common primary heart valve disease, being an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In Europe and North America AS is the most common primary valve disease needing surgery or catheter intervention. Due to the ageing of population the prevalence of moderate to severe degenerative AS increased, overcoming â??4% in patients over 75 years of age. Around 12% of patients at this age, may have AS of various degree. Echocardiography is the key tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of AS and is the primary noninvasive imaging method for assessment. The guidelines provide clear recommendations for recording and measurement of AS severity using echo. Several echo criteria define a severe AS: an aortic valve area <1cm2, a mean G >40mmHg and a maximum jet velocity >4m/s. However, although accurate quantification of disease severity is an essential step in patient management, clinical decision-making depends on several other factors, most importantly, whether or not symptoms are present. Nevertheless, due to ageing of patients either the natural history of AS and the clinical presentation of patients, changed. Early clinical features may be often non-specific, with palpitations, dizziness, fatigue. Moreover, some people may be unaware of gradual decline in their exercise capacity. That way the role of other echocardiographic method is presented and discussed, from dobutamine stress echocardiography in case of low flow - low gradient AS (to differentiate a true severe AS against a pseudo-severe AS), till physical stress echocardiography, in asymptomatic patients with severe AS. Additionally, the role of other method of diagnosis as MSCT and CMR are presented.