Estimation of right ventricular volume with two dimensional echocardiography

Abstract To evaluate the applicability of two dimensional echocardiography to right ventricular volume determination, a study was made of 33 consecutive patients separated into three groups (control, right ventricular volume overload and right ventricular pressure overload). Biplane two dimensional echocardiograms that were perpendicular to each other were obtained from the apical approach. The echocardiographic right ventricular volume, calculated by applying Simpson's rule, was considered to be right ventricular body volume without right ventricular outflow tract volume. The echocardiographic dimensions of the right ventricular long, short and maximal short axes were also measured in each view. These volumes and dimensions were compared with both the angiographic right ventricular body volumes calculated by applying Simpson's rule and with the values in each group. Correlation between the echocardiographic and the angiographic right ventricular body volumes (r = 0.94 at end-diastole, r = 0.84 at end-systole) was good and much better than that between echocardiographic right ventricular dimensions and angiographic right ventricular body volumes. Echocardiographic calculation of right ventricular body volume was useful in distinguishing the control group from the group with right ventricular volume overload (p The correlation between the echocardiographic dimensions of the right ventricular long axis and angiographic right ventricular volumes was poor, whereas that between the echocardiographic dimensions of the right ventricular short or maximal short axis and the angiographic right ventricular volumes was fairly good. It was therefore suspected that during right ventricular enlargement, the increase in size is more extensive in the direction of the short than in the direction of the long axis. It is concluded that estimation of right ventricular volume and morphology with two dimensional echocardiography may be of value in clinical practice.