Echo-doppler and invasive evaluation of valvulo-arterial impedance in patients with severe aortic stenosis: Impact of pressure recovery

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most frequent valvulopathy in the western population [1]. Guidelines reported eco-Doppler mean (MG) and peak (PG) gradient and valve area (AVA) as index to its quantitative evaluation [2]. However, they seem inadequate to a correct severity definition [3] and new parameters, such as valvulo-arterial impedance (Zva), an index of global LV afterload, which theoretically accounts for the effects of AS and systemic arterial compliance [4], have been proposed [5]. Zva is obtained as the ratio of stroke volume index (SVI) to the sum of systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and MG [6] and for its correct evaluation, pressure recovery (PR) after AS may be taken into account to obtain net MG (MGnet) [6].

Source: International Journal of Cardiology - October 24, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Corinna Bergamini, Giorgio Golia, Aldo D. Milano, Matteo Pernigo, Francesca Vassanelli, Gabriele Pesarini, Giuseppe Faggian, Corrado Vassanelli Tags: Letter to the editor Source Type: research