Assessment of right ventricular function in healthy people using tissue Doppler imaging

Introduction A growing body of evidence is being gathered regarding the right ventricle's (RV) unique function, adaptation, and compensatory role. Echocardiography should probably enable prompt diagnosis and treatment assessment at the initial stage. Aim The study aimed to assess the structural and functional features of the RV in healthy individuals. Material and methods The study included 185 healthy adults aged 16 to 85 years. Everyone who participated in the study had an echocardiographic examination using a standard method and an RV tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in pulsed mode from the base of the free wall. On the RV TDI, we measured the velocity of the s, e, and a wave, and the duration of isometric contraction times (ICT), ejection time (ET), and isometric relaxation time (IRT) in milliseconds. Results and discussion In 51% of participants, the ratio of early and late diastolic speeds (e/a) was less than 1. It was detected in 21% of people under 40 and 64% of cases in people over 40. RV exhibits distinct embryological origins and functional characteristics compared to LV. Its unique structural components and muscle fiber orientation contribute to its contractile function, with longitudinal fibers playing a predominant role in RV emptying. Echocardiography, particularly TDI, provides valuable insights into RV function and pathology. The study highlights the importance of age-related changes in RV diastolic function, emphasizing that early diastolic myocardial relaxation declines with age, necessitating increased atrial contraction. Conclusions The patient's age must be considered while analyzing the RV function's TDI in clinical practice.