My Approach to Assessing Right Ventricular Function After Tetralogy of Fallot Repair

Qualitative assessment

On the apical four-chamber view, I examine the motion of the tricuspid valve toward the apex (measured as the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [TAPSE] as detailed below) and the motion of the RV wall toward the septum versus data of prior studies. Likewise, parasternal long- and short-axis views are important. In those with favorable acoustic windows, RV wall shortening can be assessed using M-mode ( ). It is worth noting that the qualitative assessment of RV function should not be the sole parameter. ^,

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