Detection and evaluation of tricuspid regurgitation using a real-time, two-dimensional, color-coded, Doppler flow imaging system: comparison with contrast two-dimensional echocardiography and right ventriculography.

To detect and evaluate regurgitant flow in tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with a newly developed, realtime, 2-dimensional (2-D), color-coded, Doppler flow imaging system (Doppler 2-D echo), 27 patients (18 with suspected TR and 9 normal subjects) were examined and the findings were compared with those obtained using contrast 2-D echocardiography (contrast 2-D echo) and right ventriculography. In 16 of 18 patients with suspected TR, Doppler 2-D echo easily visualized the color-coded regurgitant flow in the right atrium and estimated the severity of TR from the distance of the visible TR jet. On the basis of the QRS synchronized appearance of contrast in the inferior vena cava by the subxiphoid approach or of the negative contrast effect above the tricuspid valve just after the contrast entered the right ventricle with its subsequent back-and-forth movements across the tricuspid valve, Doppler 2-D echo was more sensitive and specific in detecting TR (100% and 100%) than contrast 2-D echo (75% and 82% in the subxiphoid view, 56% and 100% in the 4-chamber view) when the fast Fourier transformation frequency analysis was used as the standard of TR, and it was more sensitive in detecting TR (85%) than contrast 2-D echo (69% in the subxiphoid approach, 46% in the 4-chamber view) when right ventriculography was used as the standard of TR. Additionally, the severity of TR as shown by Doppler 2-D echo correlated fairly well with that shown by right ventriculography. Thus, Doppler 2-D echo is clinically useful for detecting and evaluating TR.