In cardiology, aortic valve area calculation is an indirect method of determining the area of the aortic valve of the heart. The calculated aortic valve orifice area is currently one of the measures for evaluating the severity of aortic stenosis. A valve area of less than 1.0 cm2 is considered to be severe aortic stenosis.

There are many ways to calculate the valve area of aortic stenosis.  The most commonly used methods involve measurements taken during echocardiography. For interpretation of these values, the area is generally divided by the body surface area, to arrive at the patient's optimal aortic valve orifice area.

Planimetry
Planimetry is the tracing out of the opening of the aortic valve in a still image obtained during echocardiographic acquisition during ventricular systole, when the valve is supposed to be open.  While this method directly measures the valve area, the image may be difficult to obtain due to artifacts during echocardiography, and the measurements are dependent on the technician who has to manually trace the perimeter of the open aortic valve. Because of these reasons, planimetry of aortic valve is not routinely performed.

The continuity equation
The continuity equation states that the flow in one area must equal the flow in a second area if there are no shunts between the two areas.  In practical terms, the flow from the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) is compared to the flow at the level of the aortic valve. In echocardiography the aortic valve area is calculated using the velocity time integral (VTI) which is the most accurate method and preferred.  The flow through the LVOT, or LV stroke volume (in cm3), can be calculated by measuring the LVOT diameter (in cm), squaring that value, multiplying the value by 0.78540 (which is π/4) giving a cross sectional area of the LVOT (in cm2) and multiplying that value by the LVOT VTI (in cm), measured on the spectral Doppler display using pulsed-wave Doppler.  From these, it is easy to calculate the area (in cm2) of the aortic valve by simply dividing the LV stroke volume (in cm3) by the AV VTI (in cm) measured on the spectral Doppler display using continuous-wave Doppler.

Stroke volume = 0.785(π/4) x Diameter2 x VTI of LVOT

Cross sectional area of LVOT = 0.785(π/4) x LVOT Diameter2

The weakest aspect of this calculation is the variability in measurement of LVOT area, because it involves squaring the LVOT dimension. Therefore, it is crucial for the sonographer to take great care in measuring the LVOT diameter.

Inaccuracies in using the continuity equation to calculate aortic valve area may arise when there is an error in measurement of the LVOT diameter. This is sometimes difficult to measure depending on the sonographic view and anatomy.  If measured incorrectly, the effect on aortic valve area is amplified because the radius of the LVOT is squared. Additionally, estimation of aortic valve area and stenosis may be inaccurate in cases of subvalvular and supravalvular stenosis. 

For verification purposes of the obtained valve area using echocardiogram and doppler measures, especially if the obtained valve area is in the range requiring surgery and cardiac output is low, the Gold standard of left heart catheterization for true hemodynamics should be obtained for validation using the Gorlin formula, so patient does not go for unneeded surgery.

The Gorlin equation
The Gorlin equation states that the aortic valve area is equal to the flow through the aortic valve during ventricular systole divided by the systolic pressure gradient across the valve times a constant.  The flow across the aortic valve is calculated by taking the cardiac output (measured in liters per minute) and dividing it by the heart rate (to give output per cardiac cycle) and then dividing it by the systolic ejection period measured in seconds per beat (to give flow per ventricular contraction).

The Gorlin equation is related to flow across the valve.  Because of this, the valve area may be erroneously calculated as stenotic if the flow across the valve is low (i.e. if the cardiac output is low).  The measurement of the true gradient is accomplished by temporarily increasing the cardiac output by the infusion of positive inotropic agents, such as dobutamine.

The Hakki equation
The Hakki equation is a simplification of the Gorlin equation, relying on the observation that in most cases, the numerical value of
. The resulting simplified formula is:

The Agarwal-Okpara-Bao equation
The Agarwal-Okpara-Bao equation is a new form of AVA evaluation equation named after Ramesh K. Agarwal, Emmanuel c Okpara, and Guangyu Bao. It was derived from curve fitting of CFD simulation results and 80 clinical data obtained by Minners, Allgeier, Gohlke-Baerwolf, Kienzle, Neumann, and Jander  using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. The comparison of the results calculated from Gorlin Equation, Agarwal-Okpara-Bao Equation, and clinical data is shown in the figures on the right.

References

Valvular heart disease