Real-time three-dimensional color doppler flow imaging: An improved technique for quantitative analysis of aortic regurgitation

Abstract

The recently introduced real-time three-dimensional color Doppler flow imaging RT-3D CDFI) technique provides a quick and accurate calculation of regurgitant jet volume (RJV) and fraction. In order to evaluate RT-3D CDFI in the noninvasive assessment of aortic RJV and regurgitant jet fraction (RJF) in patients with isolated aortic regurgitation, real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed on 23 patients with isolated aortic regurgitation to obtain LV end-diastolic volumes (LVEDV), end-systolic volumes (LVESV) and RJV, and then RJF could be calculated. The regurgitant volume (RV) and regurgitant fraction (RF) calculated by two-dimensional pulsed Doppler (2D-PD) method served as reference values. The results showed that aortic RJV measured by the RT-3D CDFI method showed a good correlation with the 2D-PD measurements (r=0.93, Y=0.89X+3.9, SEE=8.6 mL,P<0.001); the mean (SD) difference between the two methods was-1.5 (9.8) mL. % RJF estimated by the RT-3D CDFI method was also correlated well with the values obtained by the 2D-PD method (r=0.88, Y=0.71X+14.8, SEE=6.4%,P<0.001); the mean (SD) difference between the two methods was-1.2 (7.9)%. It was suggested that the newly developed RT-3D CDFI technique was feasible in the majority of patients. In patients with eccentric aortic regurgitation, this new modality provides additional information to that obtained from the two-dimensional examination, which overcomes the inherent limitations of two-dimensional echocardiography by depicting the full extent of the jet trajectory. In addition, the RT-3D CDFI method is quick and accurate in calculating RJV and RJF.

Keywords

real-time three-dimensional echocardiography / color Doppler flow imaging / aortic regurgitation

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