Pressure half-time predicts hemodynamically significant pulmonary regurgitation in adult patients with repaired tetralogy of fallot

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2003 Oct;16(10):1057-62. doi: 10.1016/S0894-7317(03)00553-4.

Abstract

Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) is associated with adverse outcomes late after tetralogy of Fallot repair. Accurate assessment of PR in these patients is, therefore, fundamental to their clinical treatment; however, accurate ultrasound markers of severity are as yet poorly defined. This is a prospective study of 34 adult patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess the PR fraction and its hemodynamic significance on the right ventricular volumes. Regurgitant fractions >/= 20% were associated with significant increases in right ventricular end-diastolic volumes. Echocardiographic continuous wave Doppler profiles of the PR jet were used to calculate pressure half-time. Pulmonary pressure half-time < 100 milliseconds was found to be a good indicator of hemodynamically significant regurgitation. This measure is highly reproducible and easily accessible.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aortic Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve / physiopathology
  • Blood Flow Velocity / physiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / epidemiology
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / physiopathology
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Ontario
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pulmonary Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Valve / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / epidemiology
  • Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / physiopathology*
  • Radiography
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Stroke Volume / physiology
  • Tetralogy of Fallot / epidemiology
  • Tetralogy of Fallot / physiopathology*
  • Vasodilation / physiology