Ch 5 Parasternal CD Flashcards
What is the doppler effect?
A change in frequency caused by the motion of a sound source, receiver or reflector
Doppler echocardiography is based on the change in what?
In frequency of the backscattered signal from small moving structures (ex RBCs)
If the motion is moving towards, the received echo has a lower or higher frequency?
Higher
If the motion is moving away, the received echo has a lower or higher frequency?
Lower
What is a doppler shift?
The difference in frequency b/w the transmitted frequency (Ft) + the scattered signal received back at the transducer (Fs)
(DS = Fs - Ft)
What is the audible range of doppler shifts?
0-20 KHz
What is a positive doppler shift?
When the RBCs are moving TOWARDS the probe
What is a negative doppler shift?
When the RBCs are moving AWAY from the probe
Blood flow towards the probe is going to appear above or below the baseline?
Above (antegrade) - due to positive doppler shift in our color scale
Blood flow away from the probe is going to appear above or below the baseline?
Below (retrograde) - due to negative doppler shift in our color scale
Explain what each variable is in the doppler equation: V = c (Fs-Ft) / 2 Ft (cos)
V: velocity of blood flow
C: speed of sound in blood
Ft: transducer frequency
Fs: backscattered frequency
Cos: angle b/w ultrasound beam + direction of blood flow
When applying cardiac doppler, should the u/s beam be parallel or perpendicular to blood flow?
Parallel
Is cosine equal to 1 or 0?
Cos = 1
Will a doppler shift be recorded/detected if the u/s beam is perpendicular to blood flow?
Nope
Should we use angle correct for cardiac doppler applications? Why or why not?
No! B/c of the chance that the “correction” will be erroneous (wrong + inaccurate)
How can we avoid errors in calculating the velocity of blood flow?
By having the intercept angle of the u/s beam + the direction of blood flow parallel
What are the 2 intracardiac flow patterns we see in the heart?
Laminar + disturbed/turbulent flow
What is laminar flow?
Movement of fluid along well defined parallel stream lines with uniform flow velocities
In 3D, what does laminar flow consist of?
Concentric layers (lamina) or flow, each with a predictable + uniform direction and velocity
What is disturbed/turbulent flow?
Blood flow in multiple directions + velocities (is chaotic)
When would disturbed/turbulent flow occur?
Downstream from areas of narrowing
(ex: stenotic + regurgitant orifices or an intracardiac shunt)
Is a small amount of turbulent flow as the valves close normal in people?
Yes
What are flow velocity profiles?
Spatial distribution of velocities in a cross section: at a specific intracardiac location + at a specific time in the cardiac cycle
What is a flat flow velocity profile?
Parallel streamlines in a laminar flow pattern with the same velocity
(image shows all arrows in a straight line going in same direction)