What type of Doppler is typically used for assessing regurgitant jets?

Continuous-wave Doppler is typically used for assessing regurgitant jets because it allows for the measurement of high-velocity flows that can occur with significant regurgitation. Unlike pulsed-wave Doppler, which is limited by a sample volume and can miss high-velocity signals beyond its Nyquist limit, continuous-wave Doppler can evaluate flow continuously over a broader range of velocities. This characteristic makes it particularly useful in detecting and quantifying the velocity of regurgitant jets across valves, such as mitral or aortic regurgitation.

In clinical practice, continuous-wave Doppler is especially beneficial when dealing with conditions where the velocities are significantly elevated, providing a clearer assessment of the severity of the regurgitation, which is crucial for proper diagnosis and management of cardiac conditions.