Coarctation · anatomy & gradients calculator
Explore coarctation · anatomy & gradients with the method’s inputs, acquisition guidance and source references. Open the calculator to enter measurements or try an illustrative worked example.
Method
Peak ΔP = 4V₂²; corrected peak ΔP = 4(V₂² − V₁²); mean from systolic CW trace
Use the measurement units shown below. Some fields apply only to a selected method or condition; follow the interactive tool’s method choices. The interactive tool keeps missing measurements incomplete and provides its method-specific results and reference context.
Measurements and acquisition
Available measurement
Enter the measured value in the displayed unit
- Corrected peak
- Peak only
- Traced mean
- Confirm the variable matches the selected formula.
- Use the unit displayed beside the field.
- Keep measurements from the same representative hemodynamic state.
Proximal peak velocity V₁ m/s
Pulsed-wave Doppler
- Position the PW sample gate at the required anatomical station.
- Align with flow and save a complete, unaliased envelope.
- Measure the reproducible dense peak from zero in velocity units, not VTI.
Coarctation peak velocity V₂ m/s
Continuous-wave Doppler
- Align the CW cursor as parallel as possible to the jet.
- Acquire a dense, complete envelope without truncation.
- Measure the highest absolute velocity on the selected envelope.
Traced systolic mean gradient mmHg
Complete traced CW envelope
- Align through the valve or shunt and record a complete envelope.
- Trace the modal velocity envelope using the machine tool.
- Use the machine-calculated mean gradient in mmHg.
Sources and method context
ACC / AHA / HRS / ISACHD / SCAI · ASE / EACVI · 2025 · 2025 Guideline for the Management of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease · Coarctation section · Table 25 and footnotes · doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2025.09.006
- Adult significance, not a severity scale · 2025 ACHD guideline · Table 25
Mean Doppler and corrected maximum instantaneous gradients >20 mmHg are suggestive features; interpret lower gradients cautiously with LV dysfunction, severe AS or collaterals and elevated gradients after repair.
- Acquisition and downstream flow · ASE / EACVI Thoracic Aorta 2015 · pp. 162–163, Figure 51 · doi:10.1016/j.echo.2014.11.015
Suprasternal arch imaging and Doppler, delayed abdominal systolic upstroke and persistent forward diastolic flow; multimodality assessment of the whole aorta.
- Doppler versus catheter gradients · Egbe et al. 2023 · PMID 37660667 · PMC10805228
Only modest echo–catheter correlations in 121 adults. Peak, corrected peak and mean are distinct measurements; no regression conversion is implemented.
- Reporting anatomy and associated disease · ASE adult echo reporting 2025 · congenital lesions table · doi:10.1016/j.echo.2025.06.001
Describe narrowing, branch relationship, arch dimensions, diastolic continuation, abdominal Doppler and residual aortic complications.
Catalogue review status: Exact guideline locator mapped · clinical sign-off pending
These pages describe the educational tool. Interpret measurements with the complete clinical context and the method’s acquisition limitations.