Quantification of valvular lesions in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

Echocardiography is the preferred method for assessment of aortic and mitral valvular lesions. The pressure gradient in aortic stenosis may be misleading in patients with poor left ventricular function. Aortic valve area planimetry by transesophageal echocardiography results in a flow independent anatomic measurement. Low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography provides important prognostic information. Quantitative Doppler echocardiography allows accurate assessment of mitral regurgitation severity. However, the definition of what is severe mitral regurgitation is different in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.