Doppler echocardiographic methods to estimate severity of aortic stenosis

The continuity equation should be regarded as the Doppler echocardiographic gold standard for estimation of valve area in patients with aortic stenosis, but a quick, easy, and inexpensive screening test may be desirable in an era of medical cost containment. Aortic valve leaflet separation could be used as such a test. In fact, it could prove especially useful in cases where calculations using the continuity equation or the fractional shortening-velocity ratio are problematic.