Echocardiographic evaluation of the aortic valve in the unstable patient – basic considerations

Summary

The aortic valve assessment is a part of complex echocardiographic examination for a compensated patient however especially for a haemodynamically unstable patient. In these conditions we need to rule out or confirm decompensated severe aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, infective endocarditis or other pathology of native or prosthetic valve. The pathology of aortic valve is a common cause of heart failure and therfore early echocardiographic assessment allows fast and correct decision in a care of an unstabil patient.

Authors of the paper get to know the anesthesiologists and intensivists the fundamental principles of assessment of the aortic valve especially in condition of intesive care.

Keywords:
echocardiography – aortic stenosis – aortic regurgitation – continuous wave doppler – colour flow doppler – M-mode