Prognostication of Valvular Aortic Stenosis Using Tissue Doppler Echocardiography: Underappreciated Importance of Late Diastolic Mitral Annular Velocity

In patients with AS and normal ejection fraction, annular tissue Doppler echocardiographic indices may better reflect the physiologic consequences of afterload burden on the left ventricle than body surface area-indexed aortic valve area. Lower A' velocity is a predictor of cardiac death and need for valve surgery, suggesting an important role for compensatory left atrial booster pump function.