Correlation between echocardiography and cardiac catheterization in assessing the severity of aortic stenosis

The severity of aortic stenosis was assessed by echocardiography in 81 consecutive adult patients, 40 of whom underwent cardiac catheterization. The patients' mean age was 54 ± 16.4 years. A good correlation was found between the severity of aortic stenosis assessed by cross-sectional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Aortic valve separation of 7 mm or less occurred only in severe aortic stenosis whereas a separation of 12 mm ruled out any significant aortic stenosis. A separation of 8-11 mm constituted a 'grey' area between mild and severe aortic stenosis. Cross-sectional echocardiography provides a reliable method for crude evaluation of aortic stenosis.