Evaluation of the association between the right ventricular functions and the fractional shortening in patients with right ventricle volume or pressure loading

Aim: We aimed to determine the role of right ventricular fractional shortening (RVFS) assessed by the convenient anatomic M-mode echocardiography method in determining the RV functions. Material and Method: The study enrolled 29 patients with RV volume loading (group 1), 26 patients with RV pressure loading (group 2) and 25 control subjects (Group 3). Using anatomic M-mode echocardiography, RV outflow tract FS (RVOTFS), RV midwall FS (RVMWFS) and the tricuspid annulus FS (TAFS) were measured. In addition to using conventional echocardiography, RV ejection frac- tion (RVEF), RV systolic area (RVSA), RV diastolic area (RVDA). The change in RV area (RVAC) and RVEF were calculated using the rel- evant formulas. Results: The mean age was 48.3 ± 19.5 years in Group 1, 51.6±21.4 years in Group 2 and 30.4±6.2 years in Group 3. No statistically significant difference was found in RV functions between Group 1 and Group 2. The TAFS, RVMWFS and RVOTFS measurements were in Group 1 and Group 2 was significantly lower than the Group 3 (p<0.001). Conclusion: In this study, RVFS measurements were observed to have a significant relationship between RVEF and RVAC. Accordingly, we found that RVFS had a significant role in determining the RV functions.