ABSTRACT
The ability to measure right ventricular systolic pressure from the tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity has been a major advance. Frequently, tricuspid regurgitation is associated with a normal valvular anatomy. A semi-quantitative approach can be achieved by analyzing the length and width of regurgitant jets and by mapping the regurgitant jet back from the valve into the great veins. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure may be reliably estimated using the peak systolic velocity of the tricuspid regurgitant jet. The peak jet velocity allows calculation of the right atrial to right ventricular systolic pressure gradient from the Bernoulli formula. In Ebstein’s anomaly there is atrialization of the right ventricle with downward displacement of one or more leaflets of the tricuspid valve into the ventricle leading to an enlargement of the right atrium and tricuspid regurgitation. Tricuspid stenosis is an uncommon accompaniment of rheumatic mitral valve disease.
