Assessment of Right Ventricular Volume and Ejection Fraction in Congenital Heart Disease by Real-Time Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

Objective To assess the right ventricular function in congenital heart disease with right ventricular dilatation by realtime three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE). Methods Thirty normal subjects (NOR) and 18 congenital heart disease patients with right ventricular dilatation (CHD) were studied. Right ventricular volume during end systole (RVESV) and end diastole (RVEDV),right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and right ventricular mass (RVmass) were measured by RT-3DE and two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) in the same day. Results ① In normal subjects or patients with CHD, there was no significant diference between the results (RVESV, RVEDV, RVEF, RVmass) measured by RT-3DE and by 2DE. ② The results (RVESV, RVEDV, RVmass) measured by RT-3DE and by 2DE were significantly higher in patients with CHD than in normal subjects and RVEF was lower in patients with CHD than in normal subjects. ③ RVEDV measured by RT-3DE was correlated well with RVEDV measured by 2DE ( r =0.934). Conclusion Right ventricular function in CHD patients with RV dilatation could be evaluated by RT-3DE, which had great valve in clinical practice.