Right ventricular (RV) velocity measurements using high resolution spiral myocardial phase velocity mapping (PVM)

Background PVM is capable of accurately and reproducibly measuring myocardial velocities in the LV [1]. However, analyzing RV motion is more difficult because of the thinness of the free wall and its asymmetrical geometry. Currently, the most commonly used technique for assessing RV velocities and function is Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) where the high temporal resolution allows the detailed analysis of fine features of motion (small peaks in velocity during isovolumic contraction (IC) and isovolumic relaxation (IR) [2], for example). However TDI is restricted by inadequate acoustic windows and cannot comprehensively assess velocities over the entire RV. This study aims to establish that high resolution spiral PVM is capable of reproducibly measuring RV free wall velocities and that, consequently, it has a future role in assessing RV function.