实时三维超声心动图定量评价左心瓣膜病变伴随的功能性三尖瓣反流的可行性研究

目的:探讨实时三维超声心动图(RT-3DE)定量评价左心瓣膜病变伴随的功能性三尖瓣反流(FTR)的可行性.方法:100例拟行瓣膜置换术的左心瓣膜病变患者,于术前、术后1周、术后6-9个月行超声心动图检查,采集73例功能性三尖瓣反流的二维超声心动图(2DE)及RT-3DE图像,测量并计算瞬时三尖瓣最大反流容积、右心房容积、三尖瓣最大反流面积/右心房面积、三尖瓣最大反流容积/右心房容积.对相关指标进行配对t检验和直线相关分析.结果:三尖瓣最大反流容积、右心房容积及两者比值的2DE和RT-3DE测值差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);但两种测值间具有较好的一致性和相关性,r=0.867,0.897.结论:RT-3DE定量功能性三尖瓣反流是可行的,用于临床评价功能性三尖瓣反流更为合理.     

实时三平面超声心动图与双平面Simpson's法评价心肌梗死患者左心室收缩功能的相关性分析

目的 探讨实时三平面超声心动图(RT-3PE)与二维超声心动图(2DE)双平面Simpson,s法测量心肌梗死患者左室容积和左心室射血分数(LVEF)的相关性.方法 应用RT-3PE和二维超声心动图(2DE)双平面Simpson's法同期测量30例心肌梗死患者的左室舒张末期容积(LVEDV)、左室收缩末期容积(LVESV)和LVEF,并将两种方法的测值进行相关性分析.结果 RT-3PE法和2DE双平面法所测的LVEDV、LVESV和LVEF之间均无统计学意义(P＞0.05),且相关性良好(r分别为0.89、0.96和0.86,P＜0.01).结论 实时三平面超声心动图可以实时在线测定心肌梗死患者左心室容积和左室射血分数,为临床上定量分析心肌梗死患者左心室容积和左室射血分数提供了一种检查快速、简便和无创的新方法.     

实时三维超声测量右心室容积及收缩功能的可行性研究

目的分析实时三维超声心动图（RT-3DE）定量测量右心室容积和右心室射血分数（right ventricularejection fraction,RVEF）的可行性,及其与二维超声心动图（TDE）所测量的右心室容积、RVEF、右心室面积及右心室面积变化分数（right ventricular fractional area change,RVFAC）的相关性。方法通过实时三维超声心动图对85例行二尖瓣和（或）主动脉瓣置换术的风湿性心脏病患者采集其右心室全容积图像,同时用二维超声心动图测量右心室相关数值。将超声心动图图像导入Tomtec 4D Cardio View工作站,手动调节图像并描记心内膜边界后,软件分析自动得到右心室舒张末期容积（right ventricular end-diastolic volume,RVEDV）、右心室收缩末期容积（right ventricular end-systolic volume,RVESV）、RVEF;手动计算右心室搏出容量（right ventricular strokevolume,RVSV）。对实时三维超声心动图测值与二维超声测值进行相关分析。结果实时三维超声心动图测得的RVEDV、RVESV、RVSV较二维超声心动图测值大,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;两者测得的RVEF比较,差异无统计学意义（P=0.51）。两种方法所测RVEDV、RVESV、RVSV及RVEF相关性良好（r=0.79、0.82、0.68、0.64,P〈0.05）;实时三维超声心动图所测RVEDV、RVESV与二维超声心动图所测右心室舒张末期面积、右心室收缩末期面积相关性良好（r=0.76、0.79,P〈0.05）。实时三维超声心动图所测RVEF与二维超声心动图所测RVFAC也有较好的相关性（r=0.56,P〈0.05）。结论实时三维超声心动图测量右心室容积、RVEF是可行的,与二维超声心动图测值间有良好的相关性;实时三维超声心动图能够更好的评价右心室收缩功能。     

全身成像三维量化法定量评估不同程度主动脉瓣反流的价值分析

目的:探讨全身成像三维量化(GI3DQ)法定量评估不同程度主动脉瓣反流(AR)的可行性及准确性.方法:纳入轻度以上AR患者119例,根据实时三维超声心动图(RT3DE)法测量的AR容积(ARVol)进行分级并分组:轻中度反流组(n=35),中重度反流组(n=41),重度反流组(n=43).使用GI3DQ法测量AR最大反...     

实时三维超声对高血压病左房收缩功能的初步研究

目的探讨实时三维超声（RT-3DE）评价原发性高血压（EH）患者左房收缩功能的价值。方法20名健康人（正常组）和60例EH患者分为LVMI正常组（NLVH组）、左室肥厚组（LVH组）。测量左心房最大容积（LAVmax）、左房最小容积（LAVmin）、左房射血量（LASV）和左心房射血分数（LAEF）。分别在正常组与EH病组内比较二维超声（2DE）与RT-3DE测量结果。结果①在正常组与EH病组内，2DE与RT-3DE测量结果比较差异无统计学意义（P=0．14）；②在正常组与EH病组之间，2DE测量结果、RT-3DE测量值各自对比差异有统计学意义（P=0．03）；③RT-3DE测量的EF值（IAEF3D）与E／A，LAEF3D与2DE测量的EF值LAEF2D之间具有良好的相关性（r=0．86，r=0．89）。结论RT-3DE能够通过三维容积测量评价EH患者左心房收缩功能，具有重要的临床应用价值。     

三维经食管超声心动图对室壁瘤患者左心室容积与功能的评价

目的:探讨应用三维经食管超声心动图(3D-TEE)定量评价左心室室壁瘤形成后左心室的形态、结构与功能。方法:35例心肌梗死后合并左心室室壁瘤形成的患者,于术前3 d之内进行经胸三维超声心动图和三维经食管超声心动图检查。对所获得的左心室舒张末期容积、收缩末期容积、左心室射血分数、收缩期二尖瓣口反流面积和室壁瘤容积等数据进行处理,对照分析2种方法所测得的结果。结果:32例患者可以获得优质图像,三维经食管超声心动图所测得左心室舒张末期容积、收缩末期容积、室壁瘤容积较三维经胸超声心动图所测得的数据偏高,而三维经食管超声心动图所测得的左心室射血分数偏低,二者差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:应用3D-TEE对心室重构、心腔扩大或室壁瘤形成的左心室评价更为精确。3D-TEE可以作为定量评价心肌梗死后室壁瘤形成患者的左心室容积、功能和室壁瘤大小的有效手段。     

64排螺旋CT与实时三维超声心动图定量评价冠心病左室收缩功能的对比研究

目的比较64排螺旋CT（64-MDCT）和实时三维超声心动图（RT-3DE）定量评价冠心病患者左室收缩功能的临床应用价值。方法 108例冠心病患者同期行64-MDCT和经胸RT-3DE检查,测量左室舒张末期容积（EDV）、收缩末期容积（ESV）、每搏输出量（SV）和左室射血分数（LVEF）,并采用逐步多元线性回归（SMLR）方法进行分析。结果 64-MDCT和RT-3DE测得左心功能各指标的数据在统计学上无统计学差异,采用SMLR法进行比较,r分别为EDV为0.835 2、ESV为0.804 3、SV为0.763 2、LVEF为0.897 1,P均〉0.05。两种方法所测EF值偏差较小,无统计学差异。结论 64-MDCT和RT-3DE两种方法在评价左室收缩功能方面具有很好的相关性,在准确测量左室收缩功能、有效评价冠心病左室重构和心脏功能损伤上可以互为补充。     

实时三维超声对心肌梗死病人介入术后左心室收缩功能的评价

目的探讨实时三维超声(RT-3DU)对心肌梗死病人介入术后左室收缩功能的评价。方法选择我院2016年1月—2017年1月收治的拟行介入术治疗的56例心肌梗死病人,术前对所有病人进行三组超声(RT-3DU)、二维超声心动图检查(2DE)及心脏磁共振成像(CMRI)检查,评价病人左心室收缩功能,包括左室舒张/收缩末期容积(LVEDV/LVESV)、左室射血分数(LVEF)。将RT-3DU与2DE检查所得参数与CMRI进行比较,再于介入术后7 d、1个月对病人进行RT-3DU检查。结果 3种检查方法 LVEF比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。2DE测得LVEDV、LVESV均显著小于CMRI(P0.01);RT-3DU与CMRI各项参数比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。RT-3DU相较2DE检测得出的左心室收缩功能参数和CMRI检测之间的相关性明显升高。介入术后7d、1个月RT-3DU测得LVEDV、LVESV逐渐减小,且均显著低于术前,LVEF逐渐升高,并显著高于术前(P0.01)。相较术前,左心室局部各节段局部舒张末期容积(r EDV)、局部收缩末期容积(rESV)在介入术后7 d、1个月均有显著减小,局部射血分数(r EF)显著升高(P0.01)。结论 RT-3DU检查能准确评价心肌梗死病人介入术前后左心室收缩功能。     

法乐氏四联症患儿采用实时三维超声心动图评价法诊断右心室整体和局部容积及收缩功能的临床意义

目的探讨实时三维超声心动图(real-time three-dimensional echocardiography,RT-3DE)诊断法乐氏四联症(tetralogy of Fallot,TOF)患儿右心室(right ventricle,RV)整体和局部容积及收缩功能的临床价值。方法对2014年2月至2016年6月陕西铜川矿务局第二医院46例TOF患儿(TOF组)、30例正常儿童(对照组)进行RT-3DE检查。采用Tom Tec RV-Function软件定量分析RV RT-3DE图像,测量RV局部与整体的舒张末期容积(enddiastolic volume,EDV)、收缩末期容积(end-systolic volume,ESV)、射血分数(ejection fraction,EF)等参数,并进行组间比较,统计分析测量者自身及测量者间的一致性。结果与对照组相比,观察组的R-R间期、RVEF显著降低(P0.05),而RVEDV、RVESV、RVSV和RV基底部横径(RV anteroposterior diameter,RVD2)显著提高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。在RV流入道,TOF组的EF显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);在RV心尖小梁部,TOF组的EDV和ESV均显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);在RV流出道,TOF组的ESV显著高于对照组(P0.05),而EF显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。Bland-Altman曲线分析结果显示,Tom Tec RV-Function分析软件测得的RVEDV、RVESV、RVEF在观察者自身和观察者内具有较好的重复性。结论 RT-3DE可作为诊断TOF患儿RV整体和局部容积及收缩功能的有效方法。     

评价新的实时三维超声心动图多平面成像测量体外心脏左室容积的准确性

目的:利用体外猪心,检测新的实时三维超声心动图多平面成像技术测量左室容积的准确性。方法:应用4%多聚甲醛溶液固定15个体外猪心,将其浸入水槽中,应用GE Vivid7Di mension实时三维超声心动图三平面成像技术测量其左室容积,并与其左室注入水的真实容积进行对比。结果:直线相关性分析及配对t检验表明:实时三维超声心动图所测左室容积与其注入水后真实容积相关性好(r=0·94),两者间差异无统计学意义。Alt man and Bland一致性分析表明两者所测容积具有较高的一致性。结论:新的实时三维超声心动图多平面成像技术能够快速、准确地测量左室容积,从而可以提高对左心功能测量的准确性。     

Three-dimensional color Doppler: a clinical study in patients with mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of color Doppler signals in patients with mitral regurgitation. BACKGROUND: Two-dimensional (2D) color Doppler has limited value in visualizing and quantifying asymmetric mitral regurgitation. Clinical studies on 3D reconstruction of Doppler signals in original color coding have not yet been performed in patients. We have developed a new procedure for 3D reconstruction of color Doppler. METHODS: We studied 58 patients by transesophageal 3D echocardiography. The jet area was assessed by planimetry and the jet volumes by 3D Doppler. The regurgitant fractions, the volumes, and the angiographic degree of mitral regurgitation were assessed in 28 patients with central jets and compared with those of 30 patients with eccentric jets. RESULTS: In all patients, jet areas and jet volumes significantly correlated with the angiographic grading (r = 0.73 and r = 0.90), the regurgitant fraction (r = 0.68 and r = 0.80) and the regurgitant volume (r = 0.66 and r = 0.90). In patients with central jets, significant correlations were found between jet area and angiography (r = 0.86), regurgitant fraction (r = 0.64) and regurgitant volume (r = 0.78). No significant correlations were found between jet area and angiography (r = 0.53), regurgitant fraction (r = 0.52) and regurgitant volume (r = 0.53) in the group of patients with eccentric jets. In contrast, jet volumes significantly correlated with angiography (r = 0.90), regurgitant fraction (r = 0.75) and regurgitant volume (r = 0.88) in the group of patients with eccentric jets. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional Doppler revealed new images of the complex jet geometry. In addition, jet volumes, assessed by an automated voxel count, independent of manual planimetry or subjective estimation, showed that 3D Doppler is also capable of quantifying asymmetric jets.     

Detection, localization, and quantitation of bioprosthetic mitral valve regurgitation. An in vitro two-dimensional color-Doppler flow-mapping study

The usefulness of two-dimensional color-Doppler flow-imaging (2D Doppler) in the detection, localization, and quantitation of bioprosthetic mitral valve regurgitation is uncertain. Mitral bioprostheses, before and after the creation of transvalvular (n = 33), paravalvular (n = 17), or combined (n = 23) defects, were mounted in a pulsed duplication system (flow rates, 2.5-6.5 l/min; pulse rate, 70 beats/min). An Aloka 880 2D Doppler system (Japan) was used to image the regurgitant jets in the simulated left atrial chamber, analogous to images obtained with transesophageal echocardiography. Jet area was corrected to an estimate of stroke volume: 2D Doppler measurements were divided by [(valve effective orifice area) X (continuous-wave Doppler-determined mean diastolic filling velocity)]/pulse rate. Regurgitant fraction and regurgitant volume were measured by an electromagnetic flow probe. 2D Doppler correctly identified the presence and location of paravalvular regurgitation. In transvalvular and combined transvalvular-paravalvular defects, there were six incorrect interpretations, all having transvalvular regurgitant volumes less than 4 ml/beat. In the presence of transvalvular regurgitation, jet area, length, and width correlated linearly with regurgitant volume (r = 0.82, 0.80, and 0.68, respectively; p less than 0.0001) and regurgitant fraction (r = 0.62, 0.61, and 0.45, respectively; p less than 0.001). Correlations with regurgitant fraction were improved when 2D Doppler measurements were corrected for stroke volume (r = 0.78, 0.79, and 0.67, respectively; p less than 0.0001). Mitral bioprostheses with transvalvular defects were also studied at varying flow rates (3.2-7.5 l/min) and pulse rates (70, 90, and 110 beats/min). The correlation between jet area and regurgitant volume was improved with a second-order polynomial regression (r = 0.93, p less than 0.0001). Our conclusions are that 1) in this in vitro model analogous to transesophageal imaging, 2D Doppler accurately detects and localizes bioprosthetic mitral valve regurgitation; 2) in transvalvular bioprosthetic mitral valve regurgitation, 2D Doppler measurement of jet area has a curvilinear relation with regurgitant volume, and correlation with regurgitant fraction is improved with correction for stroke volume; and 3) in paravalvular bioprosthetic mitral valve regurgitation, correlations between 2D Doppler measurements and regurgitant volumes are weaker, possibly because of jet eccentricity.     

Quantification of regurgitant lesions by MRI

We examined 46 patients with angiographically documented regurgitant lesions (26 patients with mitral regurgitation, 20 patients with aortic regurgitation) using an 0.5 Tesla magnet. In each patient a multislice-multiphase spinecho sequence in sagittal-coronal double angulated plane was performed to assess left and right ventricular volumes, ejection fraction and regurgitant fraction. Additionally a blood flow sensitive gradient echo technique was done to visualize direction and extension of the regurgitant jet. MRI data were compared with quantitative and qualitative assessment of regurgitation by angiography and echocardiography. Using the gradient echo technique MRI could demonstrate the regurgitant jet in all patients. A linear correlation for volume parameters by MRI and angio was found with best correlation for the left ventricular stroke volume (r=0.82, p<0.0001). Furthermore MRI regurgitant fraction correlated with angiographically determined regurgitant fraction in patients with aortic regurgitation (r=0.91, p<0.0001) and mitral regurgitation (r=0.67, p<0.001), respectively. Semiquantitative assessment of regurgitation by gradient echo technique showed an agreement with angiographic grading by Sellers in 70% of mitral and 75% of aortic regurgitation, respectively. The comparison of MRI and color Doppler sonography showed only moderate correlation of r=0.72 (p<0.01).     

Assessment of Doppler color flow mapping in quantification of aortic regurgitation--correlations and influencing factors

Real-time two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography (Doppler color flow mapping) offers useful information on valvular regurgitation. In order to quantify aortic regurgitation by Doppler color flow mapping, this study determined the relationships between regurgitant jet dimensions and angiographic grades in 100 patients, and between regurgitant jet dimensions and regurgitant fractions or regurgitant volumes in 47. Doppler data were obtained using 4 different echo windows, parasternal long and short axes, and apical two- and four-chamber views. Maximum jet area, length and diameter taken from all available views were examined in relation to angiographic grades, regurgitant fractions and regurgitant volumes. Moreover, we analyzed the technical, biological and hemodynamic factors influencing these relationships. Significant correlations were found between all maximum jet dimensions and angiographic grade (diameter, r = 0.641; length, r = 0.549; area, r = 0.611; p less than 0.01). Means and standard deviations for maximum jet dimensions according to angiographic grading revealed significant differences between all grades except in jet length between grades 3 and 4. However, these relations tended to be influenced by various factors: equipment, echo window, shape of jet, coexistence with mitral stenosis or aortic stenosis, left ventricular size, left ventricular stroke volume, and diastolic blood pressure. On the other hand, with regurgitant fractions and regurgitant volumes, maximum jet dimensions correlated well (diameter, r = 0.614 and 0.567; length, r = 0.769 and 0.767; area, r = 0.791 and 0.773; p less than 0.01) when data associated with atrial fibrillation were excluded. Thus significant correlations between regurgitant jet dimensions in Doppler color flow mapping and angiographic grades can be obtained in all patients despite various factors influencing jet dimensions. Better correlations with regurgitant fractions or regurgitant volumes may be expected in patients with normal sinus rhythm.     

Three-dimensional Doppler. Techniques and clinical applications.

AIMS: Colour Doppler is the most widely used technique for assessing valve disease, but eccentric regurgitant jets cannot be visualized and measured by conventional 2D techniques. We have developed a new procedure for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of colour Doppler signals. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty patients with mitral regurgitation underwent transoesophageal echocardiography and 3D acquisition. The severity of mitral regurgitation was assessed by angiography and the regurgitant volumes were measured by pulsed Doppler. The jet areas were calculated by planimetry from conventional colour Doppler; the jet volumes were obtained by 3D Doppler. A higher degree of mitral regurgitation was found in the patients with eccentric jets. While jet areas showed poor correlation with regurgitant volumes (r = 0.61), jet volumes correlated significantly with regurgitant volumes (r = 0.93; P < 0.001). While jet areas failed to identify patients with different grades of regurgitation, jet volumes could so discriminate. CONCLUSIONS: 3D Doppler revealed new patterns of regurgitant flow and allowed a more accurate semiquantitative assessment of complex asymmetrical regurgitant jets. Three-dimensional colour Doppler has a great potential for becoming a reference method for the assessment of patients with heart valve disease.     

A new approach to noninvasive evaluation of aortic regurgitant fraction by two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography

The aortic regurgitant fraction was estimated noninvasively in 20 patients with aortic regurgitation from systolic aortic and pulmonary volume flow determined by duplex Doppler echocardiography. By assuming that an excess of the aortic volume flow (AF) compared with the pulmonary volume flow (PF) is due to aortic regurgitant flow, the aortic regurgitant fraction (RF) was calculated as follows: RF(%) = (AF - PF)/AF X 100. The aortic and pulmonary volume flows were determined as products of systolic integrals of ejection flow velocities and cross-sectional areas of the left and right ventricular outflow tracts, respectively. The Doppler estimate of the regurgitant fraction was compared by semiquantitative grading (1+ to 4+) by cineaortography and with the measurement of regurgitant fraction by catheter technique. The mean Doppler-determined aortic regurgitant fraction was 2.4% for normal subjects, 28.0% for the patients with 1+, 32.6% for the patients with 2+, 53.3% for the patients with 3+, and 62.4% for the patients with 4+. A fair correlation was found between Doppler estimates of regurgitant fraction and semiquantitative cineaortographic grades (r = .80, p less than .01). In the patients without associated mitral regurgitation, a close correlation was observed between Doppler and catheter estimates of regurgitant fraction (r = .96, p less than .01; y = 1.0x - 0.08). In the patients with associated mild mitral regurgitation, however, Doppler estimates of regurgitant fraction substantially underestimated those determined by the conventional catheter technique, which cannot separately quantitate the aortic regurgitant fraction in the presence of mitral regurgitation. These observations indicate that the proposed Doppler technique provides a useful method to evaluate the aortic regurgitant fraction specifically regardless of the presence of associated mitral lesions.     

Quantification of mitral regurgitation by Doppler color flow mapping: comparison of mitral regurgitant fraction and volume with Doppler measurements]

Color flow imaging of the regurgitant areas has been used to quantitate the severity of valvular regurgitation, however, the exact relationship between color flow areas and regurgitant volumes or fraction has not been clarified. This study was designed to determine whether measurements of jet flow areas and distances using color flow imaging are closely related to the regurgitant volume (MRV:ml/beat) and fraction (MRF: %). Doppler examinations were performed in 29 patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). The MR jet was depicted as the largest clearly definable flow disturbance on the echo images, and the maximal jet area (cm2) and length (cm) were measured. The MRV and MRF were obtained from the Doppler measurements of the transmitral flow (TMF) and the aortic flow (AF) as follows: MRV = TMF-AF, MRF = MRV/TMF x 100. The maximal jet area showed significant correlations with the MRV and MRF (r = 0.75 and 0.75, p < 0.01), and the maximal jet length showed even better correlations with the MRV and MRF (r = 0.82 and 0.80, p < 0.01), irrespective of the etiology of MR. Thus, both the maximal jet area and length obtained from color flow imaging can be simple and useful measurement methods for predicting the MRV and MRF.     

A new dynamic three-dimensional digital color doppler method for quantification of pulmonary regurgitation: validation study in an animal model

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to validate a newly developed three-dimensional (3D) digital color Doppler method for quantifying pulmonary regurgitation (PR), using an animal model of chronic PR. BACKGROUND: Spectral Doppler methods cannot reliably be used to assess pulmonary regurgitation. METHODS: In eight sheep with surgically created PR, 27 different hemodynamic states were studied. Pulmonary and aortic electromagnetic (EM) probes and meters were used to provide reference right ventricular (RV) forward and pulmonary regurgitant stroke volumes. A multiplane transesophageal probe was placed directly on the RV and aimed at the RV outflow tract. Electrocardiogram-gated and rotational 3D scans were performed for acquiring dynamic 3D digital velocity data. After 3D digital Doppler data were transferred to a computer workstation, the RV forward and pulmonary regurgitant flow volumes were obtained by a program that computes the velocity vectors over a spherical surface perpendicular to the direction of scanning. RESULTS: Pulmonary regurgitant volumes and RV forward stroke volumes computed by the 3D method correlated well with those by the EM method (r = 0.95, mean difference = 0.51 +/- 1.89 ml/beat for the pulmonary regurgitant volume; and r = 0.91, mean difference = -0.22 +/- 3.44 ml/beat for the RV stroke volume). As a result of these measurements, the regurgitant fractions derived by the 3D method agreed well with the reference data (r = 0.94, mean difference = 2.06 +/- 6.11%). CONCLUSIONS: The 3D digital color Doppler technique is a promising method for determining pulmonary regurgitant volumes and regurgitant fractions. It should have an important application in clinical settings.     

Assessment of severity of aortic regurgitation by M-mode colour Doppler flow imaging

To assess the value of measuring the aortic regurgitant jet diameter at its origin by M-mode colour Doppler imaging, 82 patients with aortic regurgitation underwent, within 72 h of each other, colour Doppler examination and angiography. After excluding one patient without colour Doppler aortic regurgitation and five with a highly eccentric regurgitant jet, we found a close relationship between the jet diameter at its origin measured by M-mode colour Doppler and the angiographic grade of aortic regurgitation (r = 0.88). A jet diameter greater than or equal to 12 mm identified severe aortic regurgitation (grade III or IV) with a sensitivity of 86.4% and a specificity of 94.4%. In 38 patients, the jet diameter correlated well with the regurgitant fraction measured by a combined haemodynamic-angiographic method (r = 0.88). A jet diameter greater than or equal to 12 mm identified a regurgitant fraction greater than or equal to 40% with a sensitivity of 88.2% and a specificity of 95.2%. This study indicates that the size of the regurgitant jet diameter at its origin measured by M-mode colour Doppler provides a simple and useful measure of the severity of aortic regurgitation. It may allow differentiation between mild or moderate and severe aortic regurgitation and evaluation of regurgitant fraction.     

Quantitative assessment of aortic regurgitation by magnetic resonance imaging.

Thirty patients with aortic regurgitation and 10 controls were examined using an 0.5 T superconducting magnet with ECG gating. In each case a multislice-multiphase spinecho study in sagittal-coronal double angulated projection (four-chamber equivalent) was performed to assess left and right ventricular volumes, ejection fraction and regurgitation fraction. Additionally, a blood-flow sensitive cine-study (gradient echo, FAME) was performed to visualize direction and area of regurgitant jet. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were compared with quantitative and qualitative assessment of aortic regurgitation by angiography, Doppler and colour flow mapping. Using the FAME mode MRI, we were able to detect the regurgitant jet as an area of signal loss within the left ventricle in all patients; moderate correlation to jet area was determined by colour flow mapping (R = 0.60, P less than 0.001). Determination of left and right ventricular end-diastolic, end-systolic and stroke volumes by MRI revealed excellent correlation with invasive data (R = 0.94, P = 0.0001). With MRI regurgitant fraction (RF) could be calculated from the difference between right and left ventricular stroke volumes, which showed good correlation with invasively determined RF (R = 0.91, P = 0.001) and with qualitative Sellers' scoring (R = 0.70, P less than 0.001), respectively. Thus MRI provides the basis for noninvasive detection and quantification of aortic regurgitation.