Continuous wave (CW) Doppler patterns in mild, moderate, and severe aortic stenosis

The diagramatic illustration shows the shape changes in the continuous wave Doppler jet patterns associated with varying degrees of severity of aortic stenosis. Mild stenosis (A) has a rapid rising initial jet velocity, whereas the more severe degrees (B and C) have progressively slower rates of rise. The pulsus tardus on physical examination is a direct correlate of these patterns.