DD MMMM YYYY MMMM YYYY Quantitative Assessment of Anteroposterior Motion: A Novel Component of Right Ventricular Mechanics

DD MMMM YYYY MMMM YYYY The right ventricle (RV) relies on three primary contraction mechanisms: longitudinal shortening, anteroposterior (AP) motion, and radial motion, each contributing approximately one-quarter of the RV ejection fraction. While longitudinal and radial motions are routinely assessed by echocardiography, AP motion has been largely underrecognized. We present a case of RV infarction where preserved AP motion maintained cardiac output despite reduced longitudinal and radial function, illustrating its compensatory role. In a pilot study of 23 healthy subjects, the mean AP shortening fraction of the RV inflow tract was 36.4% (25th–75th percentile: 29.2–42.0%), providing reference values for clinical evaluation. Recognizing and quantifying AP motion enhances the comprehensive assessment of RV function and may improve diagnosis and management of RV pathologies.