Value of parasternal long-axis vena contracta width for predicting severity of aortic regurgitation in left ventricular systolic dysfunction

Correlations derived for the relations between parasternal long-axis vena contracta width and effective regurgitant orifice area, regurgitant volume, and regurgitant fraction were highly significant. A vena contracta width of 5.0 mm provided excellent specificity for nonsevere and severe aortic regurgitation, respectively.