Determination of normal echocardiographic values for right ventricular volume in children with two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.

Assessment of right ventricular volume and functions is needed during the decision-making process in a number of cardiological disease states. We aimed to study these variables with conventional transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography in 213 healthy cases, aged 15 days-15 years. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic volumes were measured from the apical five-chamber view and the right ventricular systolic and diastolic diameters, areas and volumes were measured from the subcostal coronal view, using the Simpson equation. Results were analyzed statistically to derive their relationship with age, height, body weight and body surface area. We conclude that right ventricular volumes measured with two-dimensional echocardiography in the subcostal coronal view using the Simpson equation are in accordance with data derived with other more complex methods reported in the literature; average values derived with this method in larger patient groups can be used as nomograms.