Korean Circ J.  1985 Dec;15(4):615-623. 10.4070/kcj.1985.15.4.615.

Assessment of Aortic Regurgitation by Real-time Two-dimensional Doppler Flow Mapping System

• Moon JH
• Shin YW
• Shin YK

• KMID: 1677314
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.1985.15.4.615

Abstract

In the real-time two-dimensional Doppler flow mapping(2DD) system, Doppler signals are processed using auto-correlation technique, so that the direction, velocity and turbulence of the intracardiac blood flow are displayed by coloration on the B mode image of the heart in real time. Aortic regurgitant flow is imaged as a mosaic jet spurting out from the aortic valve orifice to cardiac chamber. Dynamic features in the direction and extent of regurgitant flow and the site of regurgitation on the aortic valve orifice are readily obtained. Feasibility of the 2DD system in the assesment of aortic regurgitation was examined in 30 cases documented by angiography. In 30 cases, there were 20 cases with aortic regurgitation(AR) aged 16 to 57 years(mean 34) and 10 cases without AR aged 17 to 39 years(mean 30). The underlying disorders of AR were rheumatic in 15 cases, bicuspid aortic valve in 1, ventricular septal defect in 1, aortitis in 1, Marfan's syndrome in 1 and unknown in 1. The results are as follows : 1) In 19 out of 20 cases with AR the 2DD showed regurgitant jet spurting out from valve orifice(sensitivity=95%). One case missed by the 2DD had 1+AR. None of the 10 cases who had no AR manifested the evidence of AR on the 2DD(specificity=100%). 2) There was an excellent positive correlation between the maximal jet length of regurgitant flow on the 2DD and angiographic severity of regurgitation(r=0.998, p<0.001). The maximal jet length was less than 3cm for cases with 1+, 3-4.9cm for 2+, 5-5.9cm for 3+, and 6cm or more for 4+AR. 3) In 19 out of 20 cases with AR, the 2DD identifed the anatomic valvular site of regurgitation(sensitivity=95%, specificity=100%). 4) The regurgitant aortic valvular area was measured as 0.6cm2 or less in all of 12 cases with 2+ or less AR, while 0.9cm2 or more in 6 out of 7 cases with 3+or more AR. Thus, a less or greater than 0.8cm2 regurgitant aortic valvular area provides to discriminate between mild(< or = 2+) and severe(> or = 3+) AR. 5) In all 8 cases with fluttering of anterior mitral leaflet and 8 out of 9 cases with fluttering of interventricular septum, a regurgitant jet impinged on them. The results of this investigation indicate that the 2DD system is a very useful and unique noninvasive technique in the detection, estimation of severity and spatial orientation of AR.

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Aortic Valve
Aortic Valve Insufficiency*
Aortitis
Bicuspid
Equidae
Heart
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular
Marfan Syndrome