Echocardiographic measurement of the normal adult right ventricle.

Abstract

SUMMARY In studies of the right ventricle the complexities of chamber shape may be overcome by use ofmultiple tomographic imaging planes. An established protocol for the echocardiographic description of the heart was used to examine the right ventricle in an ordered series of transducer locations and orientations. Diastolic measurements were made ofthe right ventricular inflow tract, outflow tract, and right ventricular body, and the range and reproducibility of normal values for cavity size and right ventricular free wall thickness were established. These measurements of cavity size in 41 normal subjects were highly reproducible and the views that were used correctly described the truncated and ellipsoidal shape of the right ventricular inflow tract and body with a separately aligned outflow tract. Cavity trabeculation prevented measurement of the free wall thickness in some areas; however, values of nearly twice the previously reported upper limit of normal for anterior regions were measured from the apex or lateral right ventricular wall.These normal data provide a basis for future echocardiographic studies of the right ventricle.

Tricuspid Regurgitation Is Associated With Increased Risk of Mortality in Patients With Low-Flow Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis and Reduced Ejection Fraction

“…Tricuspid annulus diameter was measured at end diastole from a right ventricle-focused apical 4-chamber view as recommended (23,24). Systolic Table 3) remained significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality.…”

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia: a not so rare “disease of the desmosome” with multiple clinical presentations

“…This is explained in part by its retrosternal location, and in part by its more complex geometry. Nevertheless, it must be examined in a systematic way 56 , including the right ventricular inflow tract (RVIT), the right ventricular body (RVB), and the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). A protocol may be downloaded from the internet (H H U U http://anpat.unipd.it/ARVCU U H H ).…”

“…The three regions of the right ventricle, i.e. RVIT, RVB, and RVOT, can be visualized as follows 58 . All measurements are obtained at end-diastole:…”

Improvement in Exercise Capacity in Asymptomatic and Mildly Symptomatic Adults After Atrial Septal Defect Percutaneous Closure

“…Three measurements of the RV were obtained in the apical 4-chamber view, as follows: (1) the maximal long-axis dimension (LAX), defined as the distance between the RV apex and the midpoint of the tricuspid valve annulus; (2) the short-axis dimension (SAX), defined as the maximal dimension from the right septal surface to the free wall perpendicular to the long axis; and (3) the right ventricular inflow tract dimension (RVIT), also perpendicular to the long axis but measured at the proximal third of the distance between the tricuspid valve annulus and the apex. 7 The RV function was qualitatively described as normal, mildly hypokinetic, or severely hypokinetic. Pulmonary artery pressure was estimated using a previously described technique.…”