Large ductal flow may cause high velocity in the descending aorta without coarctation: improved diagnosis using the continuity equation.
Large ductal flow will increase the flow through the aortic isthmus and may falsely suggest coarctation of the aorta when the Bernoulli equation is applied. The continuity equation (A1 x V1 = A2 x V2) does not depend on unwarranted assumptions, and its use should avoid misdiagnosis.
Guntheroth
W G
WG
Department of Pediatrics,  University of Washington, Seattle 98195-6320, USA. wgg@u.washington.edu
Forster
F K
FK
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000502:physiology; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology