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Int J Angiol 2003; 12(4): 234-238
DOI: 10.1007/s00547-004-1021-y
Original Article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Assessment of mitral regurgitation by the measurement of vena contracta using power doppler echocardiography

Shiro Nozaki1 , Katsufumi Mizushige2 , Tomohiko Taminato1 , Hirohide Matsuo2
  • 1Division of Clinical Laboratory, Kagawa Medical University, Kagawa, Japan
  • 2Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical University, Kagawa, Japan
Abbreviations: MR = mitral regurgitation; LV = left ventricle; TVI = time-velocity integral; EROA = effective regurgitant orifice area
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Publication History

Publication Date:
26 April 2011 (online)

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Abstract

The measurement of vena contracta is a promising method for quantification of mitral regurgitation (MR). No data exist regarding the ability of power Doppler echocardiography in the assessment of vena contracta in MR. We attempted to clarify the ability of power Doppler in the assessment of vena contracta in MR. The width of vena contracta was measured using power Doppler in 70 patients with chronic MR. Mean effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) was calculated quantitatively by the spectral Doppler. The area of vena contracta was calculated by measuring the width of vena contracta from the following formula: Vena contracta area = π* (vena contracta width/2)2. The width of vena contracta ranged from 3.6 to 8.4 mm. The EROA varied from 0.10 to 0.56 cm2. Good correlations were found between EROA and vena contracta area obtained by power Doppler (r = .95, p < .0001, SEE = 0.04 cm2). Strong relationships were observed between the area of vena contracta and regurgitant volume (r = 0.93, p < .0001, SEE = 8.1 ml/beat), and regurgitant fraction (r = 0.95, SEE = 6.1%). Power Doppler may provide an additional method for assessing vena contracta in MR.

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