Abstract
The use of cardiac ultrasound for right ventricular (RV) assessment has increased in critical care research, mostly notable in the critical care unit, but also in the emergency department and in anesthesia. Over the past few years, there has been an explosion of literature in the field of RV functional assessment. A multitude of disease processes has been assessed by ultrasound, particularly in patients with the otential for increased RV afterload, such as pulmonary embolism and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The RV has a complex morphology, wraps anteriorly around the left ventricle and is the first chamber of the heart in contact with the ultrasound waves. The fiber orientation in the right ventricle is largely longitudinal. Therefore, RV functional assessment includes measures of global function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE; the most common single index used to assess RV function in POCUS studies) as well as fractional area of change (FAC). RV dysfunction in critically ill infants has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. An understanding of RV anatomy and the effect varying pathophysiologies can have on the RV morphology can allow clinicians to utilize POCUS to augment clinical acumen and potentially affect management.
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Bhombal, S., Noori, S., Singh, Y., Fraga, M.V. (2023). Focused Ultrasound in Right Ventricular Function and Pulmonary Hypertension. In: Singh, Y., Tissot, C., Fraga, M.V., Conlon, T. (eds) Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensivist. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26538-9_6
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