State-of-the-Art Review: Echocardiography in Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive and often fatal disease that frequently presents with dyspnoea on exertion and results in increased right ventricular afterload and right ventricular failure. Although cardiac catheterisation is required for a formal diagnosis, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has a central role as a screening tool in those with symptoms and those at risk for developing pulmonary vascular disease. Echocardiographic techniques can be employed to estimate pulmonary artery pressure and resistance, right atrial pressure as well as to derive indirect information about right heart structure and function.
Source: Heart, Lung and Circulation - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research