Diastolic flow reversal in the descending aorta:
Excerpt from the
International Echocardiography Discussion List:
The M-mode shows that the middle echo of the closed aortic valve is not a
single or nearly single line but shows two centered separate lines. This
would suggest wide open aortic regurgitation. However, one must be
careful with such a diagnosis since angulation of the M-mode beam plays a
role as well as the location i.e. where the commisures of a malformed
valve are cut. To read severity of valvular disease from this M-mode
picture alone cannot be recommended. The 2D echo below is from the same
patient and shows the diastolic aortic leaflet separation.
Helmut F. Kuecherer, MD
University of Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany.
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