[Doppler echocardiography in right and left obstructive cardiopathies]

In order to evaluate the usefulness of Doppler echocardiography (continuous wave) in the assessment of obstructive cardiopathies, we studied the patients with pulmonary or aortic valvar stenosis examined from January 1988 to August 1989 in our Hospital. Doppler echocardiographic studies were performed on 35 patients, 19 with pulmonary valvar stenosis and 16 children with aortic valvar stenosis. Pulmonary flow was recorded from the left parasternal position (3-4 intercostal space) and aortic flow from the right parasternal position (3-4 intercostal space), apical and suprasternal notch window. We calculate the pressure gradient by the modified Bernoulli equation. The mean right Doppler gradient was 62 +/- 14 mmHg (ranged from 45 to 95) and the mean left Doppler gradient 64 +/- 29 mmHg (ranged from 30 to 150). The accuracy of Continuous Wave Doppler Echocardiography technique in our patients was verified by linear regression analysis of doppler-calculated and catheterization-measured gradients when the procedures were performed sumultaneously or within 48 hours. The statistical analysis included 19 children with pulmonary valvar stenosis and 16 with aortic valvar stenosis. This study confirms that Doppler echocardiography technique is an accurate and simple method to assess the cardiopathies with outflow obstruction. We believe that catheterization-measured gradients can be replaced by doppler-calculated ones, since there is an excellent correlation between them when they are performed simultaneously.