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Two-dimensional echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular ejection fraction: comparison between three
E Vitolo1, D Castini, A Colombo
1Istituto di Scienze Biomediche Bassini, Università di Milano, Italy.
Acta Cardiologica
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Simpson's rule accurately determines right ventricular ejection fraction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. This 2D echocardiography method offers reproducible and precise measurements for better patient management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Chronic cor pulmonale is a serious complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Accurate assessment of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) is crucial for managing COPD-related heart conditions.
- Traditional methods for RVEF assessment can be invasive or limited in accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of three 2D echocardiography geometric formulae for determining RVEF.
- To compare echocardiographic RVEF measurements with equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (ERNA).
- To identify the most reliable echocardiographic method for RVEF assessment in chronic cor pulmonale patients.
Main Methods:
- Twelve patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic cor pulmonale were studied.
- 2D echocardiography was performed using apical and subcostal views to obtain four-chamber and right ventricular outflow tract views.
- Right ventricular volumes and RVEF were calculated using the biplane area-length method, Simpson's rule, and the pyramidal method.
Main Results:
- Satisfactory echocardiographic views were obtained in 83.3% (four-chamber) and 66.6% (RV outflow tract) of patients.
- No significant statistical differences were found between repeated echocardiographic measurements by the same operator, indicating good reproducibility.
- Simpson's rule demonstrated the highest correlation coefficient (r=0.96, p<0.001) with ERNA, outperforming the biplane area-length (r=0.63, p<0.05) and pyramidal methods (r=0.50, not significant).
Conclusions:
- Simpson's rule is a highly accurate and reproducible echocardiographic method for determining RVEF in patients with chronic cor pulmonale due to COPD.
- The findings suggest that 2D echocardiography, particularly using Simpson's rule, can reliably assess right ventricular function in this patient population.
- This non-invasive technique offers a valuable tool for clinical decision-making and monitoring disease progression.