title: The correlation between three-dimensional vena contracta area and aortic regurgitation index in patients with aortic regurgitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study are to explore the correlation between the three-dimensional vena contracta (3D VC) area and the aortic regurgitation (AR) index and to determine AR severity using the 3D VC area.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The geometry of regurgitant jets is complex in patients with AR. The 3D VC area can be easily cropped using any plane and we can obtain the complex geometry of the VC area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full-volume three-dimensional (3D) color flow datasets were generated using the trans-thoracic parasternal approach. The AR jet could be well visualized and analyzed in three orthogonal planes using dedicated software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We consecutively analyzed 77 AR patients with comprehensive 2D and 3D echocardiographic data. The 3D VC area increased proportionately with increasing AR severity using the AR index method (F = 86.1, P < 0.001) and correlated well with effective regurgitant orifice (P < 0.001). The cutoff value of the VC area was < 30 mm(2) (sensitivity = 90% and specificity = 88%) for predicting mild AR and > 50 mm(2) (sensitivity = 92% and specificity = 87%) for predicting severe AR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D color flow VC area measurement provides a simple and accurate method for assessing the severity of AR.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. chchin@cgh.org.tw
authors.forename: Chih-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Chung-Huo
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hung-Shun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic