Calculation of Aortic VAlve and LVOT Areas by a Modified Continuity Equation Using Different Echocardiography Methods: The CAVALIER Study

oleh: Tobias Friedrich Ruf, Béatrice Elise Cannard, Ruth H. Strasser, Axel Linke, Krunoslav M. Sveric

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-07-01

Deskripsi

Background: The area of the left ventricular outflow tract (A<sub>LVOT</sub>) represents a major component of the continuity equation (CE), which is, i.a., crucial to calculate the aortic valve (AV) area (A<sub>AV</sub>). The A<sub>LVOT</sub> is typically calculated using 2D echo assessments as the measured anterior–posterior (a/p) extension, assuming a round LVOT base. Anatomically, however, usually an elliptical shape of the LVOT base is present, with the long diameter extending from the medial–lateral axis (m/l), which is not recognized by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Objective: We aimed to compare standard and three-dimensional (3D)-echocardiography-derived A<sub>LVOT</sub> calculation and its use in a standard CE (CE<sub>std</sub>) and a modified CE (CE<sub>mod</sub>) to calculate the A<sub>AV</sub> vs. computed tomography (CT) multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) measurements of the anatomical A<sub>LVOT,</sub> and A<sub>AV</sub>, respectively. Methods: Patients were selected if 3D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and cardiac CT were all performed, and imaging quality was adequate. The A<sub>LVOT</sub> was assessed using 2D calculation, (a/p only), 3D-volume MPR, and 3D-biplane calculation (a/p and m/l). A<sub>AV</sub> was measured using both CE<sub>std</sub> and CE<sub>mod</sub>, and 3D-volume MPR. Data were compared to corresponding CT analyses. Results: From 2017 to 2018, 107 consecutive patients with complete and adequate imaging data were included. The calculated A<sub>LVOT</sub> was smaller when assessed by 2D- compared to both 3D-volume MPR and 3D-biplane calculation. Calculated A<sub>AV</sub> was correspondingly smaller in CE<sub>std</sub> compared to CE<sub>mod</sub> or 3D-volume MPR. The A<sub>LVOT</sub> and A<sub>AV</sub>, using data from 3D echocardiography, highly correlated and were congruent with corresponding measurements in CT. Conclusion: Due to the elliptic shape of the LVOT, use of measurements and calculations based on 2D echocardiography systematically underestimates the A<sub>LVOT</sub> and dependent areas, such as the A<sub>AV</sub>. Anatomically correct assessment can be achieved using 3D echocardiography and adapted calculations, such as CE<sub>mod</sub>.