Noninvasive evaluation of right atrial pressure

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2013 Sep;26(9):1033-42. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2013.06.004. Epub 2013 Jul 13.

Abstract

In current practice, right atrial pressure (RAP) is an essential component in the hemodynamic assessment of patients and a requisite for the noninvasive estimation of the pulmonary artery pressures. RAP provides an estimation of intravascular volume, which is a critical component for optimal patient care and management. Increased RAP is associated with adverse outcomes and is independently related to all-cause mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Although the gold standard for RAP evaluation is invasive monitoring, various techniques are available for the noninvasive evaluation of RAP. Various echocardiographic methods have been suggested for the evaluation of RAP, consisting of indices obtained from the inferior vena cava, systemic and hepatic veins, tissue Doppler parameters, and right atrial dimensions. Because the noninvasive evaluation of RAP involves indirect measurements, multiple factors must be taken into account to provide the most accurate estimate of RAP. The authors review the data supporting current guidelines, identifying areas of agreement, conflict, limitation, and uncertainty.

Keywords: 2DE; 3DE; ASE; American Society of Echocardiography; BSA; Body surface area; CVP; Central venous pressure; DTI; Doppler tissue imaging; Echocardiography; Hemodynamics; IJV; IVC; Inferior vena cava; Internal jugular vein; JVP; Jugular venous pressure; Noninvasive evaluation; RA; RAP; RV; Right atrial; Right atrial pressure; Right ventricular; SVC; Superior vena cava; Three-dimensional echocardiography; Two-dimensional echocardiography; VTI; Velocity-time integral.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Pressure / physiology*
  • Blood Pressure Determination / methods*
  • Central Venous Pressure / physiology
  • Echocardiography, Doppler / methods*
  • Exhalation / physiology
  • Hemodynamics / physiology
  • Humans
  • Inhalation
  • Jugular Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Jugular Veins / physiopathology
  • Physical Examination
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / physiology