Contrast agent use improves aortic valve evaluation during echocardiography: Study

The study's findings, published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia on February 21, 2023, showed significant discrepancies between echocardiographic measures that did or did not use contrast, which could impact surgical strategies concerning the aortic valve in the heart.

Aortic valve stenosis severity is classified by aortic valve measurements, including area evaluation via transesophageal echocardiography or transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). However, there is a disaccord between the two methods; TEE "tends" to have lower maximum velocities and average and peak gradient measures than those acquired during preoperative TTE examinations. This disaccord could lead to the aortic stenosis' severity and ultimately affect the surgical plan.

Against the above background, Zachary A. Haas from Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and colleagues examined the level of agreement between the contrast and non-contrast methods of aortic valve sizing during intraoperative TEE.

The study included thirty patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement for a stenotic valve at a tertiary hospital.

The researchers reviewed Doppler studies of 30 consecutive patients undergoing aortic valve replacement wherein a contrast agent was provided (perflutren lipid microsphere). The velocity-time integral readings and the peak/mean aortic valve gradients were measured through the aortic valve and the left ventricular outflow tract before and after the contrast agent's administration. Then, the aortic valve area was calculated using both methods. The bias and the level of agreement between the two processes were examined.

The authors reported the following findings:

• When a contrast agent was not used, the aortic valve area was overestimated by 0.26 cm2 than those measured by transthoracic echocardiography.
• TEE measurements were similar to those obtained by TTE by using a contrast agent.
• The mean and peak aortic valve gradients were underestimated by 11 and 19 mmHg, respectively.
• Contrast addition did not impact the pulse-wave Doppler readings of V1 velocity of the left ventricular outflow tract.

"This significant discrepancy could affect the decision to replace the aortic valve," the researchers conclude. "When evaluating the aortic valve with TEE, the use of a contrast agent is recommended to improve the Doppler profile and to obtain a more accurate measurement of the aortic valve area."

The researchers add, "the study's results need to be validated by larger-sized studies, and future studies could look at fine-tuning the timing and exact dose of the contrast injection."

Reference:

The study "The use of contrast may improve aortic valve assessment during transesophageal echocardiography" featured in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2023.02.023