[Right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction estimated by two-dimensional echocardiography]

Abstract

The right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction (RVEF) obtained from two-dimensional echocardiography and from right ventricular angiography were compared in 20 patients with congenital heart disease. Single plane area-length method of apical four-chamber view was used to estimate echocardiographic right ventricular volumes and single plane right anterior oblique projection was used to calculate angiographic right ventricular volumes. The results showed that right ventricular volumes estimated by echocardiography correlated highly with that calculated by angiography, the correlation coefficients of end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and stroke volume were 0.983, 0.976, 0.973 respectively. Echocardiographic RVEF also correlated strongly with angiographic RVEF (r = 0.992, P less than 0.001), and there were no significant difference between the two methods (P greater than 0.05).

Conclusion: two-dimensional echocardiography can be used to accurately estimate right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction.