Evaluation of right ventricular volume and systolic function by realtime three-dimensional echocardiography / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

ABSTRACT

The optimal plane for measurement of the right ventricular (RV) volumes by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) was determined and the feasibility and accuracy of RT3DE in studying RV systolic function was assessed. RV "Full volume" images were acquired by RT3DE in 22 healthy subjects. RV end-diastolic volumes (RVEDV) and end-systolic volumes (RVESV) were outlined using apical biplane, 4-plane, 8-plane, 16-plane offline separately. RVSV and RVEF were calculated. Meanwhile tricuspid annual systolic excursion (TASE) was measured by M-mode echo. LVSV was outlined by 2-D echo according to the biplane Simpson's rule. The results showed (1) There was a good correlation between RVSV measured from series planes and LVSV from 2-D echo (r = 0.73; r = 0.69; r = 0.63; r = 0.66, P 0.05); (3) Inter-observers and intro-observers variability analysis showed that there were close agreements and relations for RV volumes (r = 0.986, P < 0.001; r = 0.93, P < 0.001); (4) There was a significantly positive correlation of TASE to RVSV and RVEF from RT3DE (r = 0.83; r = 0.90). So RV volume measures with RT3DE are rapid, accurate and reproducible. In view of RV's complex shape, apical 8-plane method is better in clinical use. It may allow early detection of RV systolic function.