Moderate Aortic Valvular Insufficiency Invalidates Vortex Formation Time as an Index of Left Ventricular Filling Efficiency in Patients With Severe Degenerative Calcific Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement

Moderate AI falsely elevates VFT in patients with severe AS undergoing AVR by partially inhibiting mitral valve opening. VFT may be an unreliable index of LV filling efficiency with competitive diastolic flow into the LV.