Continuous wave Doppler ultrasonographic quantitation of patent ductus arteriosus flow

Abstract

DESCENDING AORTIC BLOOD FLOW PROFILES in patients with a patent ductus arteriosus show abnormal diastolic retrograde flow. Invasive studies t'2 have documented that the blood shunted left-to-right across the PDA originates from the descending aorta and occurs predominantly during ventricular diastole. Continuous wave Doppler ultrasonography is capable of noninvasively detecting this retrograde flow? Patients with a PDA were shown to have a marked increase in the degree of retro9 grade descending aortic flow characterized by an increase in the ratio of the area delineated by the retrograde flow portion of the Doppler velocity time tracing to that.of the forward flow portion? This current study was designed to investigate whether the R /F could be used not 0nly to identify the presence of a PDA but also to quantify the left-to-right ductal flow. If such were possible, serial studies would aid the clinician in the management of such children.