Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function in patients with right ventricular infarction

The aim of the present study was to assess the utility of the myocardial performance index in patients with right ventricular infarction. During the study period, 120 patients were evaluated: 50 patients had a right ventricular infarction and 70 patients had an inferior left ventricular infarction without right ventricular involvement. On admission, an echocardiogram was obtained from all patients prior to the initiation of thrombolytic therapy. The right ventricular myocardial performance index was calculated, as were the Doppler-derived parameters of the right side of the heart. All patients with right ventricular infarction had undergone a right ventricular dilation, compared with 70 patients with left ventricular infarction (right ventricular end diastolic diameter 32 +/- 13 versus 26 +/- 24 mm; P < 0.01) and increased areas (diastolic area 24.8 +/- 9.9 versus 15.1 +/- 6.8 cm2; P < 0.01). Tricuspid regurgitation was detected in 26 patients. The mean peak velocity of tricuspid regurgitation was 3.8 +/- 0.8 m/s. The Doppler intervals, isovolumetric contraction times (136 +/- 30 versus 49 +/- 11 ms; P < 0.01), and relaxation times (71 +/- 28 versus 37 +/- 9 ms; P < 0.01) were prolonged in patients with right ventricular infarction, whereas the ejection time was significantly reduced (250 +/- 31 versus 330 +/- 26 ms; P < 0.001). The myocardial performance index was significantly increased in patients with right ventricular infarction (0.85 +/- 0.2 versus 0.26 +/- 0.1; P < 0.01). The inferior vena cava collapse was reduced in all patients with right ventricular infarction (35 +/- 20%). The right ventricular myocardial performance index was a useful indicator of right ventricular performance in patients with right ventricular infarction. The use of echocardiographic parameters of the right side of the heart and Doppler echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular function provides a reliable diagnosis of right ventricular infarction.