RESUMO
We evaluated the accuracy of a noninvasive method for estimating right ventricular systolic pressures in patients with atrial septal defect and tricuspid regurgitation defected by two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasound. Of 54 patients with atrial septal defect, 24(44%) had jets of tricuspid regurgitation. By use of the maximum velocity(V) of the regurgitatant jet recorded by continuous wave Doppler ultrasound and the Bernoulli equation, we predicted right ventricular systolic pressure(RVP) calculated by the equation of RVP=4V2+10 proposed by Tei et al.The values correlated well with catheterization values(r=0.851, standerd error of estimate=4mmHg). In addition the relation between the Lt to Rt shunt amount and the severity of tricuspid regurgitation was assessed. The severity of tricuspid regurgitation graded on a four-pointscali by pulsed Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography correlated with Qp/Qs ratio calculated by the Fick's method(p<0.05).