Contrast-echocardiography and videodensitometry for assessing right ventricular hemodynamics

Available techniques for diagnosis and evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function are limited. In patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) it is of great importance to assess RV wall motion and function for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Contrast echocardiography and videodensitometry can be used to illustrate regional and global RV hemodynamics. The authors investigated patients with ARVD and healthy volunteers by this method. An off-line analysis system was used for calculation of time intervals and indices of contrast dynamics in different regions of the right ventricle. The data were also color-coded to illustrate, in one single image, the dynamic process of the contrast. The RV wall motion was also assessed by a visual score system. The patient group showed longer time intervals for the processing of the contrast in the right ventricle than the healthy group. The color pattern for the whole process showed regional disturbances in the patient group which corresponded to the wall motion abnormalities as compared to the normals. Color-coded contrast echocardiography with videodensitometry quickly and easily demonstrated disturbances in filling and elimination patterns as signs of abnormal RV function, both regional and global, in patients with ARVD compared to healthy controls.