Determination of right ventricular ejection fraction by two-dimensional echocardiographic single plane subtraction...

Right ventricular ejection fraction is a useful measurement for evaluating right ventricular function in various states, including coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and both congenital and valvular heart diseases. The right ventricular geometry has made it difficult to evaluate right ventricular ejection fraction by simple echocardiographic methods. In this study 36 consecutive patients were examined by two-dimensional echocardiography within 4 hours of radionuclide-determined right ventricular ejection fraction to test a simplified method for calculating right ventricular ejection fraction by two-dimensional echocardiography. Echocardiographic measurements were independently determined in the subcostal and apical four-chamber views. Correlation with first pass radionuclide right ventricular ejection fraction was r = 0.89 and 0.84. Right ventricular ejection fraction could be calculated from one of two views in 92% of patients studied. This technique for determination of right ventricular ejection fraction offers a simple noninvasive method of evaluating right ventricular function.