Valve Stress Echocardiography: A Practical Guide for Referral, Procedure, Reporting, and Clinical Implementation of Results From the HAVEC Group

Abstract

Valve stress echocardiography (VSE) is increasingly used both within specialist valve clinics and within dedicated VSE services, mandating practical guidance for referral, procedure, reporting, and clinical implementation of results. Therefore, a didactic VSE guide was compiled based on current European Society of Cardiology and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association valve disease management guidelines, review of existing evidence, and the authors' extensive experience with VSE. The VSE indications were grouped into 3 categories: symptoms despite nonsevere valve disease, asymptomatic severe valve disease, and valve disease with reduced left ventricular systolic function. The aim of the test, the type of stress to be used, the sequence of image acquisition, the information to be included in the report, and the implication of the VSE results for clinical management were described for every indication and summarized in user-friendly tables.

Keywords: dobutamine; exercise; guidelines; stress echocardiography; valvular heart disease.