Initial study of measurement methodology for right ventricular volume by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography

Objective To probe the feasibility and accuracy of using series apical long axis planes for the quantitative of right ventricular volumes with real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE). Methods Right ventricular Full imaging was collec ted by RT-3DE system in 22 healthy volunteers. Right ventricular end-diastolic v olume (RVEDV) and right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV) was outlined by the volumetric analysis software of RT-3DE system offline using different apical multiple plane methods respectively. RVSV was calculated as the difference between RVEDV and RVESV, meanwhile LVSV was measured by two-dimensional echocardiography. Results There were good correlation between the RVSV measured from series planes methods and LVSV derived from two-dimensional echocardiography (r= 0.73 , 0.69 , 0.62 , 0.66 , separately); there were significant differences between the RV volume in biplane and those in four-plane, eight-plane and sixteen-plane (P 0.000 1 ); there was difference between RV vol ume in four-plane and that in eight-plane (P 0.05 ); but there was no difference between RV volume in eight-plane and that in sixteen-plane (P 0.05 ).Conclusions RT-3DE could rapidly, accurately determine right ventricular volume. In view of right ventricle′s complex shape, the apical eig ht-plane measurement method is better for use in clinical.