Assessment of pulmonary vasculature and right heart by invasive haemodynamics and echocardiography

Understanding the haemodynamical profile of the right ventricle and pulmonary circulation is critical to not only the initial evaluation of, but also the continued management of pulmonary hypertension. Despite advances in non-invasive imaging techniques, right heart catheterisation (RHC) remains the gold standard for diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension and its various causes. Even so, integration of invasive haemodynamical data with the echo-Doppler exam provides the most comprehensive assessment of the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension in the individual patient. Here, we review technical aspects of basic RHC as well as specialised procedures including exercise and fluid challenge in the evaluation of pulmonary hypertension. Interpretation of data in the context of pulmonary vascular disease is discussed. Echocardiographical assessment of the right ventricular structure and function in pulmonary vascular disease are discussed along with the integration of haemodynamical and echocardiographical data in the clinical context.