Vena Contracta

pp 261-264

Abstract

Color Doppler flow mapping is used in clinical practice to assess mitral regurgitation severity. Unfortunately, jet area evaluation is limited by its dependence on hemodynamic and technical factors. Regurgitant volume can be calculated by quantitative Doppler, PISA, or let Momentum, but its notan intuitive measurement for the clinician who is thinking in terms of mild, moderate or severe mitral regurgitation. Recent interest focused the regurgitant orifice area as a marker of severity of valvular regurgitation. Although the image of the mitral regurgitation orifice is difficult to see, the width of the mitral regurgitation jet, called vena contracta is approximate to the anatomic area of that orifice. Thus, the vena contracta width provides a simple quantitative estimate of mitral regurgitation severity that can be easily performed in any clinical echocardiography setting.