EFFECTS OF VARIATIONS IN FLOW ON AORTIC-VALVE AREA IN AORTIC-STENOSISBASED ON IN-VIVO PLANIMETRY OF AORTIC-VALVE AREA BY MULTIPLANE TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

This study provides evidence that acute changes in stroke volume and c ardiac output do not result in significant alterations in the anatomic aortic valve area measured with multiplane transesophageal echocardio graphy in patients with aortic stenosis of moderate or severe degree. Thus, transesophageal echocardiography could be useful in assessing th e severity of aortic stenosis in both low- and high-output states.