Usefulness of M-mode, 2-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of valvular aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and mitral annular calcium in older patients.
OBJECTIVE: To review the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of valvular aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and mitral annular calcium (MAC) with emphasis on older persons. DATA SOURCES: A computer-assisted search of the English-language literature (MEDLINE database) followed by a manual search of the bibliographies of pertinent articles. STUDY SELECTION: Studies on the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of valvular aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and MAC were screened for review. Studies in older persons and recent studies were emphasized. DATA EXTRACTION: Pertinent data were extracted from the reviewed articles. Emphasis was on studies involving older persons. Relevant articles were reviewed in depth. DATA SYNTHESIS: Available data about the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of valvular aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and MAC with emphasis on studies involving older persons were summarized. CONCLUSIONS: Valvular aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and MAC are degenerative cardiac disorders which are common in older people. The presence and severity of these cardiac disorders are diagnosed by M-mode, 2-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography. M-mode, 2-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiographic techniques are also very useful in the prognosis and management of these cardiac disorders in older persons.