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Velders BJJ, Groenwold RHH, Ajmone Marsan N, Kappetein AP, Wijngaarden RAFDLV, Braun J, Klautz RJM, Vriesendorp MD. Improving accuracy in diagnosing aortic stenosis severity: An in-depth analysis of echocardiographic measurement error through literature review and simulation study. Echocardiography 2023; 40:892-902. [PMID: 37519290 DOI: 10.1111/echo.15664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The present guidelines advise replacing the aortic valve for individuals with severe aortic stenosis (AS) based on various echocardiographic parameters. Accurate measurements are essential to avoid misclassification and unnecessary interventions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of measurement error on the echocardiographic evaluation of the severity of AS. METHODS AND RESULTS A systematic review was performed to examine whether measurement errors are reported in studies focusing on the prognostic value of peak aortic jet velocity (Vmax ), mean pressure gradient (MPG), and effective orifice area (EOA) in asymptomatic patients with AS. Out of the 37 studies reviewed, 17 (46%) acknowledged the existence of measurement errors, but none of them utilized methods to address them. Secondly, the magnitude of potential errors was collected from available literature for use in clinical simulations. Interobserver variability ranged between 0.9% and 8.3% for Vmax and MPG but was higher for EOA (range 7.7%-12.7%), indicating lower reliability. Assuming a circular left ventricular outflow tract area led to a median underestimation of EOA by 23% compared to planimetry by other modalities. A clinical simulation resulted in the reclassification of 42% of patients, shifting them from a diagnosis of severe AS to moderate AS. CONCLUSIONS Measurement errors are underreported in studies on echocardiographic assessment of AS severity. These errors can lead to misclassification and misdiagnosis. Clinicians and scientists should be aware of the implications for accurate clinical decision-making and assuring research validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart J J Velders
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rolf H H Groenwold
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nina Ajmone Marsan
- Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arie-Pieter Kappetein
- Global Clinical Operations, Coronary and Structural Heart, Medtronic, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jerry Braun
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robert J M Klautz
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel D Vriesendorp
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Nakabachi M, Iwano H, Murayama M, Nishino H, Yokoyama S, Tsujinaga S, Chiba Y, Ishizaka S, Motoi K, Okada K, Kaga S, Nishida M, Teshima T, Anzai T. Application of the proximal isovelocity surface area method for estimation of the effective orifice area in aortic stenosis. Heart Vessels 2021; 37:638-646. [PMID: 34562142 DOI: 10.1007/s00380-021-01945-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Although the echocardiographic effective orifice area (EOA) calculated using the continuity equation is widely used for the assessment of severity in aortic stenosis (AS), the existence of high flow velocity at the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) potentially causes its overestimation. The proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method could be an alternative tool for the estimation of EOA that limits the influence of upstream flow velocity. EOA was calculated using the continuity equation (EOACont) and PISA method (EOAPISA), respectively, in 114 patients with at least moderate AS. The geometric orifice area (GOA) was also measured using the planimetry method in 51 patients who also underwent three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. Patients were divided into two groups according to the median LVOT flow velocity. EOAPISA could be obtained in 108 of the 114 patients (95%). Although there was a strong correlation between EOACont and EOAPISA (r = 0.78, P < 0.001), EOACont was statistically significantly larger than EOAPISA (0.86 ± 0.33 vs 0.75 ± 0.29 cm2, P < 0.001). Both EOACont and EOAPISA similarly correlated with GOA (r = 0.70, P < 0.001 and r = 0.77, P < 0.001, respectively). However, a fixed bias, which is hydrodynamically supposed to exist between EOA and GOA, was not observed between EOACont and GOA. In contrast, there was a negative fixed bias between EOAPISA and GOA with smaller EOAPISA than GOA. The difference between EOACont and GOA was significantly greater with a larger EOACont relative to GOA in patients with high LVOT flow velocity than in those without (0.16 ± 0.25 vs - 0.07 ± 0.10 cm2, P < 0.001). In contrast, the difference between EOAPISA and GOA was consistent regardless of the LVOT flow velocity (- 0.07 ± 0.12 vs - 0.07 ± 0.15 cm2, P = 0.936). The PISA method was applied to estimate EOA in patients with AS. EOAPISA could be an alternative parameter for AS severity grading in patients with high LVOT flow velocity in whom EOACont would potentially overestimate the orifice area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Nakabachi
- Division of Clinical Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital, Kita-14, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Iwano
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan.
| | - Michito Murayama
- Diagnostic Center for Sonography, Hokkaido University Hospital, Kita-14, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan
| | - Hisao Nishino
- Division of Clinical Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital, Kita-14, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan
| | - Shinobu Yokoyama
- Division of Clinical Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital, Kita-14, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan
| | - Shingo Tsujinaga
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Chiba
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Suguru Ishizaka
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Ko Motoi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Kazunori Okada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Sanae Kaga
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0812, Japan
| | - Mutsumi Nishida
- Division of Clinical Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital, Kita-14, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan
| | - Takanori Teshima
- Division of Clinical Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido University Hospital, Kita-14, Nishi-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8648, Japan
| | - Toshihisa Anzai
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
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