Learning Objectives By LessonATRIA & RIGHT VENTRICLELeft Atrium
- Explain the function of the left atrium within the cardiovascular system
- Describe various methods to measure the left atrium
- Describe the clinical importance of determining left atrial size during echocardiographic exams
- Explain various means to assess left atrial function
- List the upper limit of normal for left atrial size when indexed to body surface area
- Describe the purpose of using transesophageal echocardiography to evaluate the left atrial appendage
- Describe the various components of pulmonary venous inflow and the clinical importance of atrial reversal flow
Right Atrium
- Describe how to measure right atrial size
- List normal right atrial anatomical variants
- Explain how to measure right atrial pressure
- Explain how to assess patent foramen ovale
- Describe the components of hepatic venous flow
Right Ventricle
- List various right ventricular measurements that can be obtained in the apical 4-chamber and parasternal views
- List three means to evaluate right ventricular function
- Describe findings associated with right ventricular pressure and volume overload
- Describe right-sided hemodynamic measurements that can be made when evaluating the right ventricle
DIASTOLOGYDiastology Introduction
- Describe the main components of diastole
- List factors that can influence diastolic function
- Describe why diastolic function assessment is important
- List risk factors that can contribute to diastolic dysfunction
- Describe normal diastolic function
- Explain how to start the assessment of diastolic dysfunction
Grades of Diastolic Dysfunction
- List the grades of diastolic dysfunction
- Explain the pathophysiologic findings occurring at each grade of diastolic dysfunction
- Describe the transmitral inflow, pulmonary venous flow, and tissue Doppler imaging profiles for each grade of diastolic dysfunction
- Explain why grade II diastolic dysfunction is termed “pseudonormal”
- Describe how to use atrial reversal flow and transmitral atrial wave durations to assess for elevated left ventricular filling pressures
- Describe the clinical value that gained from the E/e’ ratio
Parameters of Diastolic Function
- List the various parameters that can be used to assess diastolic dysfunction
- Describe how transmitral pulse wave Doppler can be used to assess diastolic function
- List factors that influence deceleration time on transmitral pulse wave Doppler
- Describe how annular tissue Doppler imaging can be used to assess diastolic function
- Describe how pulmonary venous flow can be used to assess diastolic function
- Explain why diastolic function assessment of the left atrial size is important
- Describe how flow propagation velocity and tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity can be used to evaluate diastolic function
Contributors: Nandan Anavekar, MBBCh; Abdullah Al-abcha, MD; Muhannad Aboud Abbasi, MBBCh; Ribesh Shrestha, MD; Anthony Kashou, MD
Last updated: July 2023.
Français 
Español 
Deutsch 
日本 
Português 
हिन्दी 
中国人 
Italiano 
Dansk 
Suomalainen 
Norsk 
عربى 
Melayu 
Svenska 
Русский 
Bahasa Indonesia