Quantification of systemic right ventricle by echocardiography

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

• The right ventricle (RV) plays a crucial role in systemic circulation in specific congenital heart disease scenarios.
• Conditions like congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) and surgically corrected TGA by atrial switch result in a systemic RV.
• Progressive systemic RV failure is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a clinical perspective on the non-invasive evaluation of the systemic RV using echocardiography.
• To highlight the importance of echocardiography in assessing systemic RV function and associated anomalies.

Main Methods:

• Review of current echocardiographic techniques for evaluating the systemic RV.
• Focus on the anatomic and functional assessment of the systemic RV.
• Discussion of associated anomalies commonly found with systemic RV physiology.

Main Results:

• Echocardiography remains the predominant clinical tool for systemic RV assessment.
• It allows for a comprehensive evaluation of both structure and function.
• Identifies potential anomalies that impact RV performance.

Conclusions:

• Echocardiography is essential for the clinical management of patients with a systemic RV.
• Accurate assessment of systemic RV function and associated anomalies is critical for predicting outcomes.
• This review offers a practical guide for clinicians utilizing echocardiography in this patient population.