Key result
Two-dimensional echocardiography provides a simple and accurate bedside method for evaluating right ventricular function and monitoring disease progression in critically ill patients.
Two-dimensional echocardiography provides a simple, quick, and accurate bedside method for intensivists to evaluate and monitor right ventricular function in critically ill patients.
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction frequently occurs in critically ill patients. Common conditions associated with RV dysfunction encountered by the intensivist include acute cor pulmonale, sepsis, severe left ventricular (LV) failure, and RV infarction. Echocardiography is an invaluable tool that allows quick and accurate assessment of RV function at the bedside. Serial echocardiographic evaluation also permits dynamic monitoring of the RV function to assess for disease progression or response to therapy. This review describes simple methods of two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic evaluation of RV function as relevant to the most commonly encountered clinical scenarios in the intensive care unit (ICU). To perform this evaluation, the clinician requires only basic ultrasound skills. Advanced echocardiographic assessment, such as application of Doppler analysis, is beyond the scope of this article. The RV is comprised by two distinct parts: the body and outflow tract. The superficial muscle fibers in the body of the RV are continuous with those of the LV, whereas deeper muscular layers are in continuity with the interventricular septum (IVS). The RV contraction occurs in a peristalsis-like motion, starting at the base with the outflow tract contracting 25-50 msec later and remains contracted into early diastole.
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Alaverdian et al. (2010) conducted a review in Right ventricular dysfunction in critically ill patients. Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic evaluation was evaluated. Two-dimensional echocardiography provides a simple and accurate bedside method for evaluating right ventricular function and monitoring disease progression in critically ill patients.
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