Computed Tomography for Preoperative Assessment of Aortic Stenosis

Multidetector CT allows simultaneous assessment of valve area, LV function, and coronary anatomy.

Both echocardiography and coronary angiography are routinely used to evaluate patients with aortic stenosis before valve replacement. Can the same evaluation be accomplished concurrently with contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT)? In this observational, single-center study from France, investigators compared assessments of aortic valve area, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and coronary artery anatomy obtained with transthoracic echocardiography and coronary angiography with those obtained with ECG-gated, 16-slice MDCT in 50 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis. Ten patients were excluded because they had abnormal renal function (7) or a pacemaker (3).

Patients’ mean age was 68, 38% were women, and …

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)