Which Doppler view is used to measure left ventricular outflow tract velocity when evaluating aortic stenosis?

Which Doppler view is used to measure left ventricular outflow tract velocity when evaluating aortic stenosis?

• A. Left ventricular outflow tract diameter
• B. Left ventricular outflow tract Doppler
• C. Velocity jet
• D. Pulmonary valve view

Answer: (B)

When evaluating aortic stenosis with Doppler, you need to sample flow in the left ventricular outflow tract to get the velocity that feeds into the continuity equation for estimating valve area. The view that best allows this measurement is the left ventricular outflow tract Doppler view, typically obtained from the apical five-chamber or parasternal long-axis windows. Place the Doppler sample volume just below the aortic valve in the LVOT and align the beam with the direction of flow to capture the peak velocity (and the velocity-time integral). The diameter of the LVOT is a separate measurement used in the area calculation, not for recording velocity. The pulmonary valve view won’t visualize the LVOT, and “velocity jet” describes the flow pattern rather than the appropriate view for measuring LVOT velocity.

When evaluating aortic stenosis with Doppler, you need to sample flow in the left ventricular outflow tract to get the velocity that feeds into the continuity equation for estimating valve area. The view that best allows this measurement is the left ventricular outflow tract Doppler view, typically obtained from the apical five-chamber or parasternal long-axis windows. Place the Doppler sample volume just below the aortic valve in the LVOT and align the beam with the direction of flow to capture the peak velocity (and the velocity-time integral). The diameter of the LVOT is a separate measurement used in the area calculation, not for recording velocity. The pulmonary valve view won’t visualize the LVOT, and “velocity jet” describes the flow pattern rather than the appropriate view for measuring LVOT velocity.