Assessment of tricuspid regurgitation by directional analysis of right atrial systolic linear reflux echoes with contrast M-mode echocardiography.
Twenty-seven individuals were studied for diagnostic assessment of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) using directional analysis of echo contrast lines on M-mode echocardiograms (MME). Group I consisted of 12 patients with physical findings, as well as phonocardiogram and jugular venous pulse tracings, compatible with TR. Group II consisted of five normal volunteers and 10 control patients without any evidence of congestive heart failure or TR. Following peripheral venous injection of contrast material, all 12 patients in group I demonstrated linear reflux contrast echoes in the right atrium (RA) on MME consisting of multiple posteriorly directed echo lines throughout systole behind the tricuspid valve. In addition, linear reflux contrast echoes in the hepatic vein directed away from its entry into the inferior vena cava were noted in 8 of the 12 patients by a cursor-placed MME. The remaining 15 patients in group II showed none of the above findings on contrast echocardiography. These observations indicate that linear systolic reflux contrast echoes in the RA behind the tricuspid valve on MME may be a specific and sensitive sign of TR.
D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D013599:Systole; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000503:physiopathology