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Critical Care Echocardiography: Right Ventricular Dysfunction

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Ultrasound in the Intensive Care Unit

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM))

Abstract

Right heart failure is a common problem encountered in the intensive care unit. Echocardiography provides a means of rapidly assessing right heart function at the bedside. In this chapter, important basic parameters in the measurement of right heart structure and function with echocardiography are described. The use of echocardiography to evaluate right ventricular volume and pressure overload states as well as in the setting of pulmonary embolism is discussed. Advanced competencies in critical care echocardiography of the right heart, including echo-derived pulmonary vascular resistance and transesophageal echocardiography, are also reviewed. An understanding of the pathophysiology of right heart failure can allow thoughtful clinical correlation with the findings on critical care echocardiography, aiding in appropriate clinical decision making and triage in the care of intensive care unit patients with right heart failure.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy St., Providence, RI, 02903, USA

    Johannes Steiner M.D.

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University/Providence VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Ave, Providence, RI, 02904, USA

    Gaurav Choudhary M.D.

Authors
  1. Johannes Steiner M.D.
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  2. Gaurav Choudhary M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Johannes Steiner M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Providence VA Medical Center, Warren Alpert Medical School Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

    Matthew Jankowich

  2. Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Warren Alpert Medical School Brown University, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA

    Eric Gartman

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Steiner, J., Choudhary, G. (2015). Critical Care Echocardiography: Right Ventricular Dysfunction. In: Jankowich, M., Gartman, E. (eds) Ultrasound in the Intensive Care Unit. Respiratory Medicine. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1723-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1723-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1722-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1723-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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