The possibilities of echocardiography of the right heart chambers

Abstract

The possibilities of modern echocardiography in the right heart chambers assessment are disclosed. The most novel methods of measurement and standards of sizes of the right heart chambers, parameters of systolic and diastolic function using quantitative three-dimensional echocardiography and myocardial strain are discribed. It was mentioned that echocardiographic estimation of the right heart chambers is of the same great significance as the assesment of the left ones, but is complicated due to anatomic and functional features. It demanded some steps for create and validate the right atrium and ventricle linear and volume parameters, right ventricle systolic and diastolic function and its normal values. So, contemporary echo-protocol would contain right ventricle basal and median sizes, proximal and distal right ventricle outflow tract diameters, right atrium volume index. For assessment of the right ventricle systolic function the combined using of following markers is recommended: fractional area change, tricuspid annulus systolic excursion, systolic myocardial velocity, myocardial performance index. Special technologies of modern ultrasound equipment allows to determine the most effective parameters, such as 3D volumes, 3D ejection fraction and right ventricle global longitudinal strain.

Keywords

right heart chambers / 3D echocardiography / global longitudinal strain / Right Ventricular Separate wall motion quantification / ejection fraction / tricuspid annulus peak systolic excursion / peak systolic tricuspid valve lateral annular velocity / myocardial performance index

References

[1] Freed, B.H. Right ventricular strain in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a 2D echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance study / B.H. Freed [et al.] // Echocardiography. – 2015. – Vol. 32. – P. 257–263.

[2] Galderisi, M. Standar dization of adult transthoracic echocardiography reporting in agreement with recent chamber quantification, diastolic function, and heart valve disease recommendations: an expert consensus document of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging / M. Galderisi [et al.] // European Heart Journal. – Cardiovascular Imaging. – 2017. – Vol. 18 (12). – P. 10.

[3] Lakatos, B. Quantification of the relative contribution of the different right ventricular wall motion components to right ventricular ejection fraction: the ReVISION method / B. Lacatos, Z. Toser, M. Tokodi // Cardiovascular Ultrasound. – 2017. – Vol. 15. – P. 8

[4] Lang, R.M. Recommendations for cardiac chamber quantification by echocardiography in adults: an update from the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging / R.M. Lang [et al.] // Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. – 2015. – Vol. 28. – P. 1–39.

[5] Lang, R.M. Recommendations for chamber quantification: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography’s Guidelines and Standards Committee and the Chamber Quantification Writing Group, Developed in Conjunction with the European Association of Echocardiography, a branch of the European Society of Cardiology / R.M. Lang [et al.] // Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. – 2005. – Vol. 18. – P. 1440–1463.

[6] Muraru, D. New speckle-tracking algorithm for right ventricular volume analysis from three-dimensional echocardiographic data sets: validation with cardiac magnetic resonance and comparison with the previous analysis tool / D. Muraru [et al.] // European Heart Journal. – Cardiovascular Imaging. – 2016. – Vol. 17. – P. 1279–89.

[7] Muraru, D. Sex- and method-specific reference values for right ventricular strain by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography / D. Muraru [et al.] // Circulation – Cardiovascular Imaging. – 2016 Vol. 9 (2). – P. 38–66.

[8] Rudski, L.G. Guidelines for the echocardiographic assessment of the right heart in adults: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography endorsed by the European Association of Echocardiography, a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology, and the Canadian Society of Echocardiography / L.G. Rudski [et al.] // Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. – 2010. – Vol. 23. – P. 685–713.

[9] Sachdev, A. Right ventricular strain for prediction of survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension / A. Shachdev [et al.] // CHEST. – 2011. – Vol. 139 (6). – P. 1299–1309.

[10] Zwaan, H.B. Right ventricular quantification in clinical practice: two-dimensional vs. three-dimensional echocardiography compared with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging / H.B. Zvaan [et al.] // European Journal Echocardiography. – 2011. – Vol. 12. – P. 656–654.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Eco-Vector