Aortic Stenosis

Abstract

In 36 cases of valvular heart disease with a clinical diagnosis of isolated or significant aortic stenosis we have performed percutaneous intercostal puncture of the left ventricle for pressure measurements and, in all but one case, left ventricular angiocardiography. The possible correlations between the pressure gradient and the angiocardiographic findings are discussed. With the exception of the unsatisfactory angiocardiograms due to oblique projection of the valvular planes, valuable information was obtained regarding the degree of aortic stenosis. This was especially the case if the aortic stenosis was combined with mitral valve disease, resulting in a small or no systolic pressure gradient.