[Echocardiography advances in infarction of the right ventricle]

This review describes echocardiographic findings in patients with inferior myocardial infarction and right ventricular extension. Transthoracic echocardiography has limitations to explore some wall segments of the right ventricle, especially the apical ones, as well as in the evaluation of the right atrial wall motion; further more, this technique offers poor information because this kind of patient frequently has a deficient thoracic acoustic window. Transesophageal echocardiography is the best non-invasive technique because it allows to evaluate all the right chamber segments; when complemented with the administration of dobutamine, it helps to identify viable myocardial tissue.