Right Ventricle

The Right Ventricle

The contractile function of the RV is difficult to measure due to the complex anatomy. Historically in clinical practice there was very little attention paid to this part of the heart, since it was assumed that they previously played a passive role. Only in the last three decades it has been shown that the function of the RV plays an important role in the survival of several disease states. There is also a number of echocardiographic measurements to measure RV function and provide insight into the mechanisms of RV dysfunction.

Right ventricular dimensions

	Reference range	Mildly abnormal	Moderately abnormal	Severely abnormal
RV dimensions
Basal RV diameter (RVD 1), cm	2.0–2.8	2.9–3.3	3.4–3.8	≥3.9
Mid-RV diameter (RVD 2), cm	2.7–3.3	3.4–3.7	3.8–4.1	≥4.2
Base-to-apex length (RVD 3), cm	7.1–7.9	8.0–8.5	8.6–9.1	≥9.2
*RV diastolic area, cm2	11–28	29–32	33–37	≥38
*RV systolic area, cm2	7.5–16	17–19	20–22	≥23
RVOT diameters
Above aortic valve (RVOT 1), cm	2.5–2.9	3.0–3.2	3.3–3.5	≥3.6
Above pulmonic valve (RVOT 2), cm	1.7–2.3	2.4–2.7	2.8–3.1	≥3.2
*Reference limits and partition values of right ventricular size and function as measured in apical 4-chamber view.

Right ventricular function

	Reference range	Mildly abnormal	Moderately abnormal	Severely abnormal
*RV fractional area change, %	32–60	25–31	18–24	≤17	*TAPSE, cm	1.5-2.0	1.3-1.5	1.0-1.2	<1.0	*RV MPI	<0.28				*Dp/DT	>400mmHg				*RV TDI doppler (S'), cm/s	>11.5				*Reference limits and partition values of right ventricular size and function as measured in apical 4-chamber view