Parasternal long axis view with color flow Doppler

The long axis parasternal view with superimposed color flow Doppler mapping of the left ventricular inflow and outflow tracts was obtained during diastole. The color bar in the left side of the image indicates that red designates flow towards the transducer and that orange shades of red indicate velocities at the preset Nyquist limit of 0.75 m/sec; blue identifies flow that is away from the transducer. Normal diastolic mitral inflow from the left atrium (LA) to the left ventricle (LV) is color coded in shades of red. As the point flow crosses the mitral valve (MV) plane it becomes bright orange, ie, flow accelerates as it crosses the narrower diameter of the mitral valve ring, reaching a velocity that is at the upper limits of the instrument's ability to measure. There is a small diastolic signal in blue that arises from the central portion of the coapted aortic valve leaflets and represents mild aortic regurgitation (AI); at its point of origin, this flow is characterized by red, white, and blue dots that, by convention, identify the flow as being "disturbed" or chaotic and high velocity. As the flow decelerates it becomes blue, identifying it as flow that is away from the transducer.