Quantification of Tricuspid Regurgitation by Live Three‐Dimensional Transthoracic Echocardiographic Measurements of Vena Contracta Area

TLDR

The study measured tricuspid regurgitation in 93 patients using standard 2D and live 3D transthoracic echocardiography, deriving vena contracta area from 3D data by systematic cropping and comparing it to various 2D metrics such as RJA/RAA, RJA alone, VC width, and calculated VC area. The 3D TTE‑derived vena contracta area correlated closely with 2D TTE metrics (RJA/RAA and RJA alone) and provided incremental value for quantifying severe tricuspid regurgitation.

Abstract

We evaluated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) by multiple echocardiographic techniques in 93 consecutive patients who underwent standard two-dimensional (2D) and live three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). TR vena contracta (VC) area was obtained by 3D TTE by systematic and sequential cropping of the acquired 3D TTE dataset. Assessment of VC area by 3D TTE was compared to 2D TTE measurements of the ratio of TR regurgitant jet area to right atrial area (RJA/RAA), RJA alone, VC width, and calculated VC area. VC area from 3D TTE closely correlated with RJA/RAA and RJA alone as determined from 2D TTE measurements. Live 3D TTE color Doppler measurements of VC area can be used for quantitative assessment of TR and offer incremental value for quantification of particularly severe regurgitant lesions.