Echocardiographic evaluation of the right ventricle: Clinical implications

Clin Cardiol. 2017 Aug;40(8):542-548. doi: 10.1002/clc.22694. Epub 2017 Mar 14.

Abstract

Interest in evaluation of the right ventricle (RV) has increased recently. With the growth of new echocardiographic techniques and technology, there has been a corresponding increase in the ability to evaluate the RV, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Older echocardiographic techniques, such as right ventricular fractional area of change, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and tissue S', and newer echocardiographic techniques including 3-dimensional evaluation and global longitudinal strain, can improve our evaluation of RV function. These techniques provide both diagnostic and prognostic data on a large variety of clinical diseases including pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure. With the continuing and exponential advances in technology, echocardiography is well poised to become the primary modality to evaluate the RV.

Keywords: Imaging; Pulmonary hypertension; echocardiography; global longitudinal strain; right ventricle; three- dimensional echocardiography.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Echocardiography, Doppler*
  • Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional*
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / etiology
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / physiopathology
  • Ventricular Function, Right*