title: Analysis of Systolic Backflow and Secondary Helical Blood Flow in the Ascending Aorta Using Vector Flow Imaging.
abstract: Secondary rotational flow and systolic backflow are seen in the ascending aorta and, in this study, were analyzed with the vector velocity method transverse oscillation. Twenty-five patients were scanned intra-operatively, and the vector velocities were related to estimates of transesophageal echocardiography and pulmonary artery catheter thermodilution, and associated with gender, age, aortic diameter, atherosclerotic plaques, left ventricular ejection fraction and previous myocardial infarctions. Secondary flow was present for all patients. The duration and rotational frequency (p < 0.001) and the duration and flow direction of the secondary flow (p < 0.002) were associated. Systolic backflow was present in 40% of the patients and associated with systolic velocities (p < 0.002) and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques (p < 0.001). No other significant associations were observed. The study indicates that backflow is injurious and that secondary flow is a normal flow phenomenon. The study also shows that transverse oscillation can provide new information on blood flow in the ascending aorta.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: lindskov@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kristoffer Lindskov
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Department, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hasse
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Møller-Sørensen
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kjaergaard
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Department, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Maiken Brit
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens Teglgaard
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mads Møller
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Biostatistic Department, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Theis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: Center for Fast Ultrasound Imaging, DTU Elektro, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jørgen Arendt
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Michael Bachmann
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Ascending aorta; Atherosclerotic plaque; Secondary rotational flow; Systolic backflow; Transverse oscillation; Ultrasound; Vector flow Imaging