A unique case of “double‐orifice aortic valve”—comprehensive assessment by 2‐, 3‐dimensional,and color Doppler echocardiography |
| |
Authors: | James E Stirrup MD MRCP Peter J Cowburn MD FRCP Dimitrios Pousios MD FETCS Sunil K Ohri MD FRCS FESC Benoy N Shah MBBS MRCP |
| |
Institution: | 1. Department of Cardiology, Wessex Cardiac Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom;2. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wessex Cardiac Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom |
| |
Abstract: | Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a powerful imaging tool for the comprehensive assessment of valvular structure and function. TEE may be of added benefit when anatomy is difficult to delineate accurately by transthoracic echocardiography. In this article, we present 2‐, 3‐dimensional, and color Doppler TEE images from a male patient with aortic stenosis. A highly unusual and complex pattern of valvular calcification created a functionally “double‐orifice” valve. Such an abnormality may have implications for the accuracy of continuous‐wave Doppler echocardiography, which assumes a single orifice valve in native aortic valves. |
| |
Keywords: | aortic stenosis calcification Doppler echocardiography |
|
|