Non invasive measurement of right atrial pressure

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between right atrial pressure [RAP] and tricuspid Doppler variables. Tricuspid Doppler profile was recorded immediately before hemodynamic RAP estimation in 30 consecutive patients undergoing right-side catheterization. The diastolic tricuspid flow was obtained from standard apical 4-chamber view at a speed 100 mm/s. mean age of the study population 48 +/- 12 years. 15 patients were in sinus rhythm and 15 had atrial fibrillation. There was no significant difference between both groups in their Doppler variables. Mean RAP 6 +/- 4.2 [range 2-20 mmHg]. Significant relation was found between RAP and several tricuspid flow parameters in all patients. However, by stepwise multivariate analysis acceleration rate of early tricuspid flow emerged as the sole independent predictor of RAP [r = 0.985 F = 592, P <0.0001]. The analysis led to the following equation RAP = [0.017 x acceleration rate] - 1.03. Doppler-derived tricuspid flow is a simple, bedside means for estimating right atrial pressure