8. Echo in PAH
• Echocardiographic techniques can be employed to
–derive indirect information about right heart structure and
function
–estimate PAP, PVR, RAP
14. Echo in PAH
• Echocardiographic techniques can be employed to
–estimate PAP, PVR, RAP
–derive indirect information about right heart structure and
function
–identify possible causes such as left heart or congenital heart
disease
–monitor treatment response
16. Echo in PAH
• Echocardiographic techniques can be employed to
–estimate PAP, PVR, RAP
–derive indirect information about right heart structure and
function
–identify possible causes such as left heart or congenital heart
disease
–monitor treatment response
–predict clinical outcomes
the focus of the study
should not be limited to evaluation of RV systolic pressures
(RVSPs) but rather should include evaluation of both systolic and diastolic parameters of the right side of the heart.22 This
is especially important because prognosis in PH is strongly
related to function of the right side of the heart; moreover,
pulmonary pressures may decrease when function of the right
side of the heart deteriorates and can thus be deceiving in the
estimation of severity
severe impairment in global right ventricular function
The shape and size of the pulmonary pulsed wave Doppler profile may also be informative. In addition to the steepened acceleration time, as pulmonary hypertension progresses a mid-systolic notching may be visible. Later, as stroke volume falls, the overall area of the envelope diminishes.
