CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT OF DOPPLER SIGNALS BY SONICATED ALBUMIN FOR ESTIMATING RIGHT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC PRESSURE

The systolic pressure gradient across a tricuspid valve, which is right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure minus right atrial pressure, can be calculated from the peak velocity of the tricuspid regurgitant jet.1 If tricuspid regurgitation is trivial, adequate signals for measurement cannot be obtained. In such cases, hand-agitated saline contrast techniques have been used to enhance the Doppler signals.2-5 Recently, sonicated albumin has been recommended as a contrast agent, because its microbubbles are the smallest among the various agents. This study compares the feasibility of using hand-agitated saline and sonicated albumin as a contrast agent to enhance the Doppler signals of trivial tricuspid regurgitation. © 1991.