What does a continuous wave Doppler assist in assessing in patients with aortic stenosis?

A continuous wave Doppler is particularly effective in assessing the hemodynamic changes across aortic stenosis. When used in this context, continuous wave Doppler allows for the measurement of blood flow velocities across the aortic valve. This is crucial because the severity of aortic stenosis is determined by the pressure gradient that exists across the valves - this gradient can be derived from the velocities measured with Doppler ultrasound.

By calculating the mean gradient across the valve, clinicians can determine how well the heart is able to pump blood through the narrowed aortic opening. A higher mean gradient indicates more significant stenosis, which helps in making decisions related to patient management, such as timing for surgical intervention. Thus, the primary application of continuous wave Doppler in this case is to provide critical insights regarding the severity of aortic stenosis by measuring the mean gradient across the valve.