Assessment of the Severity of Aortic Stenosis from the Carotid Pulse Tracing

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The morphology of the externally recorded carotid pulse tracing was studied in 33 patients with valvular aortic stenosis for indices of severity. Comparisons were made with 10 normal controls. In aortic stenosis, initial upstroke time (IUT) of the carotid pulse and left ventricular ejection time index were significantly higher and the rate of rise of the carotid pulse was slower than in the control group. The severity of stenosis (calculated valve area and mean pressure gradient) could not be predicted from these indices. The IUT of the carotid pulse correlated well with mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mVcf) (r = -0.72). The rate of rise of the carotid pulse had a correlation with mVcf (r = 0.66). Other commonly used hemodynamic indices (cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance, stroke volume, and ejection fraction) did not have a good correlation with IUT and rate of rise of the carotid pulse. By carotid pulse tracings subjects with aortic stenosis evidently can be separated from normal subjects. The degree of severity of aortic stenosis cannot be determined from analysis of the external carotid pulse recording.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: