Quantification of tricuspid regurgitation by live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic measurements of vena contracta area

Echocardiography. 2006 Oct;23(9):793-800. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8175.2006.00314.x.

Abstract

We evaluated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) by multiple echocardiographic techniques in 93 consecutive patients who underwent standard two-dimensional (2D) and live three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). TR vena contracta (VC) area was obtained by 3D TTE by systematic and sequential cropping of the acquired 3D TTE dataset. Assessment of VC area by 3D TTE was compared to 2D TTE measurements of the ratio of TR regurgitant jet area to right atrial area (RJA/RAA), RJA alone, VC width, and calculated VC area. VC area from 3D TTE closely correlated with RJA/RAA and RJA alone as determined from 2D TTE measurements. Live 3D TTE color Doppler measurements of VC area can be used for quantitative assessment of TR and offer incremental value for quantification of particularly severe regurgitant lesions.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alabama
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Color*
  • Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Pulmonary Wedge Pressure
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stroke Volume
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / epidemiology
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • Ventricular Function, Right