Right ventricular echocardiographic, vectorcardiographic and electrocardiographic study in cor pulmonale

An echocardiographic (echo), vectorcardiographic (VCG) and electrocardiographic (ECG) study of the right ventricle was carried out in 27 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cor pulmonale. The subxiphoid echocardiographic approach was applied in all patients. The right ventricular internal diameter index (RVIDd), anterior right ventricular wall thickness (RVWT) and the ratio (R) intraventricular septum thickness/anterior right ventricular wall thickness were statistically different in the 27 patients compared to the 33 normals. All 27 patients had a RVIDd greater than 1.33 cm while in only 17 (63%, P less than 0.01) of these was right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) detected with VCG or ECg criteria. In 20 patients the RVWT was measured and in 19 of these the RVWT was greater than 0.56 cm. In only one patient was the RVWT less than 0.56 cm. VCG or ECG criteria showed RVH in only 14 (70%) of these patients. The R was measured in 18 patients. All patients had R less than 1.99 and in only 12 (67%, P less than 0.01) of these was RVH diagnosed with VCG or ECG criteria. It seems that the RVIDd, the RVWT and the R are useful indexes for the detection of right ventricular dilatation and hypertrophy. Therefore echocardiography is superior to the conventional ECG and VCG in the recognition of right ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation.