Assessment of right ventricular systolic function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography:animal experimental and clinical study

Objective To assess the right ventricular systolic function of healthy individuals and patients with atrial septal defect(ASD)by used real-time three-dimensional echocardiography 4D RV-Function(4D-RVF)off-line analysis software. Methods Full-volume of RT-3DE was performed in 93 healthy individuals(NOR)and 15 patients with atrial septal defect (ASD).Right ventricular end diastolic volume(RVEDV),end systolic volume(RVESV),stroke volume(RVSV)and right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF)were measured using 4D-RVF method;Full-volume of real-time three-dimensional (RT-3DE)was also performed in 10 excised fresh pig hearts,and the right ventricular volumes were measured by both 4D- RVF and apical long-axis 8 plane(AL 8-plane,4D Cardio-View)methods.The parameters were compared with actual vol- ume respectively.Results Right ventricular volume parameters of healthy individuals(NOR)obtained from 4D-RVF were as follows:RVEDV:(90.57±28.27)ml,RVESV:(38.325±14.18)ml,RVSV:(52.25±16.86)ml,RVEF:(57.96±6.85)%;RV systolic function was decreased in ASD patients.In excised pig hearts,the right ventricular volume obtained from 4D-RVF method was very close to the actual volume(r_1=0.93,r_2=0.82).Conclusion Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography-4D RV-Function(4D-RVF)method can assess the right ventricular systolic function accurately.