title: Evaluation of right ventricular function in adults with congenital heart defects.
abstract: The right ventricle (RV) is of lesser importance in acquired heart disease, but its role is of increasing importance in congenital heart disease (CHD). Despite major progress being made, precise measurements of the RV are challenging because of its peculiar anatomical structure that is not adaptable to any planar geometrical assumption. This is particularly true in adult patients with CHD where the RV shape eludes any standardization, it may assume various morphologies, and its modality of contraction depends on previous surgical treatment and/or pathophysiological conditions. However, reliable and repeatable quantification of RV dimensions and function for these patients are essential to provide appropriate timing for intervention to optimize outcomes. In this population, echocardiographic evaluation should not be limited to an observational and subjective functional assessment of the RV but must provide quantitative values repeatable and clinically reliable to help the decision-making process. The aim of this review was to discuss the echocardiographic approach to the RV in adult patients with CHD in general and in specific cases of pressure or volume overload.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology and Adult with Congenital Heart Disease Department, IRCCS San Donato Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bussadori
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Salvo
authors.forename: Francesca R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pluchinotta
authors.forename: Luciane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaio
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carminati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Doppler myocardial imaging; atrial septal defect; congenital heart defects; right ventricular function; tetralogy of Fallot; three-dimensional echocardiography