Color doppler of the Aortic flow
Echocardiography Textbook
For studying the flow in Ascending Aorta by Color Doppler, the apical five-chamber position is the best choice. In this position, the flow is almost parallel to the ultrasonic beam. It is also possible to use the left parasternal approach, the long axis of the heart, And the Suprasternal View, the Long Axis of the aorta.
If examining from Apical 5 Chamber View, The flow is directed away from the transducer accordingly encoded in blue color.
The flow will almost always exceed the Nyquist limit and is similar to the flow in the opposite direction (Spectrum Distortion).
Apical 5 Chamber view. LVOT and Aortic flow Color Doppler. Simulation By Echocardiography Online Simulator MyEchocardiography.com
When examining from a Parasternal Approach, the long axis of the heart, the flow in the Aorta can be directed towards the transducer or away from the transducer. This depends on the orientation of the Aorta to the ultrasound beam. If the Aorta is in front of the transducer, then the flow is directed towards the transducer and is accordingly coded in red color. When positioned at the back, the flow is directed away from the transducer and is coded in blue color.
Parasternal view Long axis. LVOT and aortic flow Color Doppler. Simulation By Echocardiography Online Simulator MyEchocardiography.com
When examining Ascending aortic flow from a Suprasternal View, the flow is coded in red because it is directed towards the transducer. In the descending part of the aorta, it is coded in blue because it is directed away from the transducer.
In the central part, we see an echo-negative space, the so-called "dead zone". The reason for this is the fact that the flow in this area is perpendicular to the ultrasonic beam and cannot be investigated.
Suprasternal View, the Long axis of Aorta. Ascending and Descending Aortic flow Color Doppler
From the Subcostal View, it is possible to study flow in Abdominal Aorta. The flow is coded in red, because it is directed towards the transducer.
How to Simulate Aortic Flow Color Doppler?