Table 1.

Subsections of the BSE aortic valve guidance.

1. Anatomy   -  Standard anatomy and imaging planes   -  Variant anatomy

2. Calcification and aetiology of AS

3. Haemodynamic principles of AS

4. Standard echocardiographic images

5. Essential parameters in the echocardiographic assessment of AS severity   -  Aortic valve maximal velocity (AV Vmax)   -  Mean aortic valve gradient (mean AVG)   -  Aortic valve area (AVA)   -  Potential sources of error and troubleshooting

6. Approach to the patient

7. Grading of severity   -  Aortic sclerosis   -  Mild, moderate and severe AS   -  Very severe AS

8. Additional parameters to define severity   -  Indexed aortic valve area (AVAi)   -  Dimensionless index   -  Planimetry   -  Energy loss index (ELI)

9. Other considerations   -  Atrial fibrillation   -  Blood pressure

10.  Additional prognostic markers   -  Left ventricular ejection fraction   -  Indexed left ventricular mass   -  Global longitudinal strain   -  Pulmonary hypertension

11.  Additional echocardiographic imaging modalities   -  Trans-oesophageal imaging   -  Exercise stress echocardiography

12.  Special circumstances   -  Low-gradient AS with LVEF ≥50%   -  Low-gradient AS with impaired LVEF   -  High gradient high valve area

13.  Combined valve disease   -  Aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation   -  Aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation   -  Aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis

14.  Aortic stenosis and amyloid