Doppler imaging of regurgitant jet in aortic insufficiency: experimental validation and preliminary clinical evaluation.

Aortic insufficiency induces the development of a jet within the left ventricular outflow tract. The diameter of a laminar jet is a well-defined hydraulic parameter. This study was designed to evaluate, both experimentally and in patients, the accuracy of its measurement using a Doppler imaging performed with a multigate pulsed Doppler velocimeter. The experimental validation was conducted on a water tank pulsatile model including calibrated orifices. Jet images appeared clearly delineated and were not modified when changing imaging angulation (from 85 degrees to 65 degrees), pump frequency (from 60 to 100 c min-1), pump output (from 0.5 to 3.8 l min-1), wall filtering, orifice shape, or signal-to-noise ratio. The measured jet diameter (jd) correlated closely with the orifice diameter (od): jd (mm) = 1.22 + (0.79 X od), r = 0.98. A preliminary clinical evaluation was performed on jets of aortic insufficiency on a series of 26 patients. Jet cross-section was studied within the left ventricular outflow tract using a parasternal approach. A high setting of wall filters allowed good quality imaging in 24 patients. In the absence of a diastolic jet, jd was taken equal to 0. Measured jet diameters were compared to the angiographic grade (ag): jd (mm) = 2.7 + (3.9 X ag), r = 0.86. In conclusion, jet diameter measurement using M-mode Doppler imaging is experimentally accurate and potentially valuable in patients with aortic insufficiency.