[Doppler echocardiography determination of the severity of tricuspid valve stenosis]

To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of Doppler echocardiography for assessment of tricuspid stenosis, data of eleven patients were compared with hemodynamic results. Using the pressure half-time method, stenotic tricuspid orifice area was calculated as the quotient of 220 divided by the pressure half-time. The pressure gradient across the stenotic valve was determined according to the modified Bernoulli equation using four times the square of the maximal velocity of the stenotic jet. A close correlation was found between the Doppler echocardiographically and invasively determined orifice areas (r = 0.97, SEE = 0.23 cm2). There was also a good linear relationship between the pressure gradients derived from both methods (r = 0.89, SEE = 1 mmHg). Thus, the assessment of tricuspid stenosis can be achieved reliably by noninvasive means with the aid of Doppler echocardiography.