Aortic valve area calculation

Aortic Stenosis Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Aortic Stenosis from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Cardiac Stress Test
Electrocardiogram
Chest X Ray
CT
MRI
Echocardiography
Cardiac Catheterization
Aortic Valve Area
Aortic Valve Area Calculation
Treatment
General Approach
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Percutaneous Aortic Balloon Valvotomy (PABV) or Aortic Valvuloplasty
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) TAVR vs SAVR Critical Pathway Patient Selection Imaging Evaluation Valve Types TAVR Procedure Post TAVR management AHA/ACC Guideline Recommendations
Follow Up
Prevention
Precautions and Prophylaxis
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Aortic valve area calculation On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Aortic valve area calculation All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Aortic valve area calculation
CDC on Aortic valve area calculation
Aortic valve area calculation in the news
Blogs on Aortic valve area calculation
Directions to Hospitals Treating Aortic valve area calculation
Risk calculators and risk factors for Aortic valve area calculation

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S. [3]

Overview

Aortic valve area calculation is an indirect method of determining the area of the aortic valve. The calculated aortic valve orifice area is currently one of the measures for evaluating the severity of aortic stenosis. A valve area of less than 0.8 cm² is considered to be severe aortic stenosis.

There are many ways to calculate the valve area of aortic stenosis. The most commonly used methods involve measurements taken during echocardiography. For interpretation of these values, the area is generally divided by the body surface area, to arrive at the patient's optimal aortic valve orifice area.

Cardiac Catheterization

Gorlin Equation

• In 1951, S.G. Gorlin and Dr. Richard Gorlin, were the first to develop a formula to calculate the cardiac valvular orifices using the flow and pressure-gradient data.

• The Gorlin equation states that the aortic valve area is equal to the blood flow through the aortic valve during ventricular systole divided by the systolic pressure gradient across the valve times a constant.

• The flow across the aortic valve is calculated by taking the cardiac output (measured in liters/minute) and dividing it by the heart rate (to give output per cardiac cycle) and then dividing it by the systolic ejection period measured in seconds per beat (to give flow per ventricular contraction).

Aortic Valve Area (cms²) = (Stroke volume (mL/beat) ÷ Systolic ejection period (secs/beat)) ÷ ( 44.3 x square root of mean systolic pressure gradient between the left ventricle and aorta (mmHg))

Simplified Equation: Aortic valve area = (Cardiac output/Heart rate) ÷ (44.3 x Sq rt mean systolic pressure gradient x Systolic ejection period) → AVA = Cardiac output ÷ (44.3 x Heart rate x Systolic ejection period x Sq rt mean systolic pressure gradient)

• The Gorlin equation is related to blood flow across the valve. Therefore, in cases of low cardiac output, the valve area may be erroneously calculated as stenotic. Therefore, the measurement of the true gradient may be accomplished by temporarily increasing the cardiac output by the infusion of positive inotropic agents, such as dobutamine.

• For instant online calculation of aortic valve area, click here

	Example: An individual undergoes left and right heart cardiac catheterization as part of the evaluation of aortic stenosis. The following hemodynamic parameters were measured. With a heart rate of 80 beats/minute and a systolic ejection period of 0.33 seconds, the cardiac output was 5 liter/minute. During simultaneous measurement of pressures in the left ventricle and aorta (with the use of one catheter in the left ventricle and a second in the ascending aorta), the mean systolic pressure gradient was measured at 50 mmHg. What is the valve area as measured by the Gorlin equation?
	Answer: Aortic Valve Area (cms2) = (5000 mL/minute) ÷ (44.3 x 80 bpm x 0.33 secs x sq rt of 50mmHg) = 0.6046 cms2

Hakki Equation

• The Hakki equation is a simplification of the Gorlin equation, relying on the observation that in most cases, the numerical value of 44.3 x heart rate (bpm) x systolic ejection period (secs) is ≈1000.

• The resulting simplified formula is:

Aortic Valve Area (cms²) = (Cardiac output (liters/minute)) ÷ (Square root of mean systolic pressure gradient between the left ventricle and aorta (mmHg))

	Example: An individual undergoes left and right cardiac catheterization for the evaluation of aortic stenosis. Measurements includes an aortic pressure of 120/60, left ventricular pressure of 170/15, cardiac output of 3.5 liters/minute. What is the aortic valve area?
	Answer: The peak gradient between the left ventricle and aorta is 50 mmHg → Aortic Valve Area = (3.5) ÷ (Sq root of 50) = 0.496 cms2

Echocardiography

Planimetry

Planimetry is the tracing out of the opening of the aortic valve in a still image obtained during echocardiographic acquisition during ventricular systole, when the valve is supposed to be open. While this method directly measures the valve area, the image may be difficult to obtain due to artifacts during echocardiography, and the measurements are dependent on the technician who has to manually trace the perimeter of the open aortic valve. Because of these reasons, planimetry of aortic valve is not routinely performed.

Continuity Equation

• The continuity equation states that the flow in one area must equal the flow in a second area if there are no shunts in between the two areas.

• In practical terms, the blood flow from the left ventricular outflow tract is compared to the blood flow at the level of the aortic valve.

• Using echocardiography, the aortic valve area calculated using the time velocity integral (TVI) which is the most accurate and preferred method.

• The blood flow through the LVOT (i.e., left ventricular stroke volume (cm3 or cc), can be calculated by measuring the LVOT diameter (cm), squaring that value, multiplying the value by 0.78540 giving cross sectional area of the LVOT (cm2)and multiplying that value by the LVOT TVI (cm), measured on the spectral Doppler display using pulsed-wave Doppler.

• From these, it is easy to calculate the aortic valve area (cm2) of the aortic valve by simply dividing the stroke volume (cm3) by the aortic valve time velocity integral (cm) measured on the spectral Doppler display using continuous-wave Doppler.

Aortic Valve Area (cms²) = { (LVOT Diameter² x 0.78540 x LVOT Time Velocity Integral) ÷ (Aortic Valve Time Velocity Integral) }

	Example: An individual undergoes transthoracic echocardiography for the evaluation of a systolic ejection murmur with delayed carotid upstroke noted on physical examination. During echocardiography, the following measurements were made: LVOT diameter of 2 cm, LVOT TVI of 24 cm, and an Aortic Valve TVI of 50 cm. What is the aortic valve area?
	Answer: An LVOT diameter of 2cm gives a LVOT cross-sectional area of, 2 x 2 x 0.78540 = 3.14 cm2. To calculate stroke volume: Cross-sectional area x LVOT TVI = 3.14 x 24 = 75.40 cc. Aortic valve area = Stroke volume ÷ Aortic valve TVI = 75.40 ÷ 50 = 1.51 cm2

• The weakest aspect of this calculation is the variability in measurement of LVOT area, because it involves squaring the LVOT dimension. Therefore, it is crucial for the sonographer to take great care in measuring the LVOT diameter.

Related Chapters

• Aortic stenosis
• Aortic valve area
• Aortic valve replacement

References

Template:WikiDoc Sources