Vena contracta measurement in aortic insufficiency

From the mid-esophageal aortic valve long-axis view, a color-flow video loop of the regurgitant jet through the aortic valve should be captured in diastole. The video should be cycled through until the peak diastolic flow is observed in a still frame (shown here). To make a valid measurement, the frame must contain the hemisphere of flow acceleration on the aortic valve side of the outflow tract, a clear image of the narrowest neck of the jet, and the jet itself in the left ventricular outflow tract. Aliasing velocities should be between 40 and 60 cm/s, and the focus should be at the level of the valve. The vena contracta is measured at the narrowest neck of the jet (illustrated in the image on the right). This measurement is reproducible and relatively independent of load, making it an attractive tool for quantifying the severity of aortic regurgitation using intraoperative TEE.

TEE: transesophageal echocardiography.

Graphic 106988 Version 4.0

خرید پکیج

Vena contracta measurement in aortic insufficiency