Correlation of pediatric echocardiographic Doppler and catheter-derived valvar aortic stenosis gradients and the influence of aortic regurgitation

This report suggests that in the absence of aortic regurgitation. Doppler peak and mean gradients are useful predictors of catheter peak-to-peak aortic stenosis gradients >50 mm Hg; however, in the presence of aortic regurgitation, the predictive value diminishes dramatically, but improves when electrographic data are incorporated. We present potentially useful equations to help predict the need for interventional catheterization for valvar aortic stenosis.