
The purpose of this paper is to review the current role of echocardiography in the evaluation of patients with low gradient severe aortic stenosis (LG severe AS). Discordant grading of AS severity, in which a small aortic valve area coexists with a small gradient, can result in diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. Transthoracic, transesophageal, and stress echocardiography play pivotal roles in reconciling the discordance and clarifying AS severity. Three physiologic categories of LG severe AS can be identified (classical low flow (LF) LG AS, paradoxical LF-LG AS, and normal flow LG AS), each with different prognostic and therapeutic implications. Echocardiographic measures of the severity of the valve stenosis, left ventricular function (and functional reserve), and right heart disease provide important prognostic information to assist with patient management. A systematic comprehensive approach using echocardiography is essential in LG severe AS to understand the reason for the discordant hemodynamics, to confirm AS severity, and to guide therapeutic decision-making.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
