Vena Contracta - this is the width of the flow at the site of its formation, the so-called neck of the regurgitation, the narrowest point of the flow, at the ends of the leaflets of the closed mitral valve.

Vena Contracta Width (VCW) can be used to assess the severity of regurgitation:

• Mild - Vena Contracta < 0.3 cm.
• Moderate - Intermediate.
• Severe - Vena Contracta > 0.7 cm (>0.8 for biplane. For average between apical two and four-chamber views).

 

Vena Contracta can also be used to determine the effective area of the regurgitation orifice (EROA):

 

 

 

Left Parasternal View, the Long axis of LV, Mitral regurgitation. VCW measurement. Simulation By Echocardiography Online Simulator MyEchocardiography.com

 

ASE Guideline for Assessment degree of Mitral Stenosis

 

How to Simulate Assessment degree of Mitral Regurgitation by Vena Contracta Width (VCW)? >>>

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