The effects of regurgitant orifice size, chamber compliance, and systemic vascular resistance on aortic regurgitant velocity slope and pressure half-time

Brian P. Griffin, Frank A. Flachskampf, Samuel Siu, Arthur E. Weyman, James D. Thomas*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

The determinants of the aortic regurgitant velocity profile have been investigated using computer and in vitro simulations in which regurgitant orifice area, ventricular and aortic compliance, and systemic vascular resistance could be independently varied. In the study, regurgitant fraction was altered, either by changing the size of the regurgitant orifice or by holding the regurgitant orifice constant and changing chamber compliance or systemic vascular resistance. Upon increasing regurgitant fraction by increasing the size of the regurgitant orifice, the slope got steeper and the pressure half-time shortened, the response anticipated in current clinical practice. However, when the regurgitant orifice was kept constant and regurgitation fraction was increased by increasing the systemic vascular resistance or by increasing the compliance of the left ventricle, slope became less steep and pressure half-time lengthened. Multivariate analysis was used to quantify the relationship of regurgitant fraction to slope and pressure half-time. When orifice area was allowed to vary, slope was related directly (multiple r = 0.78, p < 0.001) and half-time was related inversely (multiple r = 0.66, p < 0.001) to regurgitant fraction. With the orifice area fixed, however, directionally opposite responses were seen; slope varied inversely (multiple r = 0.87, p < 0.001), whereas half-time varied directly (multiple r = 0.88, p < 0.001) with regurgitant fraction. This study suggests that the utility of the slope and pressure half-time of the regurgitant velocity tracing in clinical practice relates to their ability to discriminate regurgitant orifices of differing sizes. However, these findings also suggest caution in the conventional interpretation of these indices in individual patients in whom changes in regurgitant fraction are produced by pharmacologic manipulation of the systemic vascular resistance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1049-1056
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican heart journal
Volume122
Issue number4 PART 1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effects of regurgitant orifice size, chamber compliance, and systemic vascular resistance on aortic regurgitant velocity slope and pressure half-time'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this