1. Color flow imaging of the vena contracta in mitral regurgitation: technical considerations
- Author
-
Paul A. Grayburn and Brad J. Roberts
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Blood pool ,Hemodynamics ,Severity of Illness Index ,Internal medicine ,Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ,Quantitative assessment ,Humans ,Medicine ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,In patient ,cardiovascular diseases ,Mitral regurgitation ,Vena contracta ,business.industry ,Mitral Valve Insufficiency ,Stroke Volume ,Image Enhancement ,Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ,Regional Blood Flow ,Regurgitant fraction ,cardiovascular system ,Cardiology ,Mitral Valve ,Color flow ,Radiology ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine ,business ,Blood Flow Velocity - Abstract
Qualitative grading of mitral regurgitation severity has significant pitfalls secondary to hemodynamic variables, sonographic technique, blood pool entrainment, and the Coanda effect. Volumetric and proximal isovelocity surface area methods can be used to quantitate regurgitant orifice area, regurgitant volume, and regurgitant fraction, but have several limitations and can pose technical challenges. The vena contracta width method provides a rapid and accurate quantitative assessment of mitral regurgitation severity, but is clinically underused. This article is intended to generate an understanding of the flow mechanics of the vena contracta and the sonographic technique required to provide consistent and accurate measurements of vena contracta width in patients with mitral regurgitation.
- Published
- 2003
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