Contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of valvular insufficiency.

The authors studied the diagnostic possibilities of contrast echocardiography in tricuspid (TVI), mitral (MVI) and aortic (AVI) insufficiency. In 29 patients with TVI the contrast medium was injected into the cubital vein, in 12 patients with MVI and in 13 patients with AVI it was injected into the left ventricle and the aorta respectively at catheterization. Four diagnostic echocontrast criteria of TVI were deduced, three of which have a high specificity and sensitivity. Diagnosis of MVI and AVI is possible only with the use of selective contrast echocardiography, which provides direct signs of regurgitation through the affected valve, is highly specific and sufficiently sensitive.