title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Echocardiography, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiatian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mingxing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xinfang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged