Preliminary discussion of national normal right ventricular function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography

Objective To validate the feasibility and accuracy of right ventricular (RV) volume and systolic function with single cardiac cycle real-time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. Methods Three-dimensional images of RV and left ventricle (LV) were obtained in 122 healthy adults by 3D matrix array transducer. The end systolic volume (ESV), end diastolic volume (EDV), stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF) were measured by RV analysis and LV analysis software. To validate the reliability of measurement of right ventricle by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography, the correlations of RV functional parameters and multiple parameters (such as age, gender and body surface area) were analyzed. And the correlation and difference between different modalities of left ventricle and right ventricle were compared. Results 3D-RVEF was (55.66±13.97)%, 3D-RVEDV was (68.24±40.19) ml, 3D-RVESV was (30.09±19.14) ml and 3D-RVSV was (38.30±26.10) mL. RVSV and RVEF of normal men were larger than those of normal women, but no statistical difference were found [(40.15±26.15) ml vs (36.11±25.60) ml, (55.69±14.57)% vs (55.62±13.36)%, both P>0.05]. RV related function parameters had no relevant correlation with age (P>0.05). Body surface area was weakly related to RVEDV, RVESV and RVSV (r=0.236, 0.247 and 0.178, all P<0.05). BSA had no correlation with RVEF. 3D-RVSV and 3D-RVEDV were weakly positively correlated with 3D-LVSV and 3D-LVEDV (r=0.215 and 0.201, both P<0.05). 3D-RVEF and 3D-RVESV were not correlate with 3D-LVEF and 3D-LVESV. Conclusion The single cardiac cycle real-time three-dimensional echocardiography is a simple and feasible method for assessment of right ventricular function and can quantify right ventricular contractive function precisely. Key words: Real-time echocardiography; Right ventricle; Contractive function