ASE committee recommendation
Recommendations for Chamber Quantification: A Report from the American Society of Echocardiography’s Guidelines and Standards Committee and the Chamber Quantification Writing Group, Developed in Conjunction with the European Association of Echocardiography, a Branch of the European Society of Cardiology

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General Overview

Enhancements in imaging have followed technologic improvements such as broadband transducers, harmonic imaging, and left-sided contrast agents. Nonetheless, image optimization still requires considerable expertise and attention to certain details that are specific to each view (Table 1). In general, images optimized for quantitation of one chamber may not necessarily be optimal for visualization or measurement of other cardiac structures. The position of the patient during image acquisition is

Quantification of the LV

LV dimensions, volumes, and wall thicknesses are echocardiographic measurements widely used in clinical practice and research.12, 13 LV size and performance are still frequently visually estimated. However, qualitative assessment of LV size and function may have significant interobserver variability and is a function of interpreter skill. Therefore, it should regularly be compared with quantitative measurements, especially when different views qualitatively suggest different degrees of LV

Quantification of the RV and RV Outflow Tract

The normal RV is a complex crescent-shaped structure wrapped around the LV and is incompletely visualized in any single 2D echocardiographic view. Thus, accurate assessment of RV morphology and function requires integration of multiple echocardiographic views, including parasternal long- and short-axis, RV inflow, apical 4-chamber, and subcostal. Although multiple methods for quantitative echocardiographic RV assessment have been described, in clinical practice assessment of RV structure and

Quantification of Left Atrial And Right Atrial Size

The LA fulfills 3 major physiologic roles that impact on LV filling and performance. The LA acts as a contractile pump that delivers 15% to 30% of the LV filling, as a reservoir that collects pulmonary venous return during ventricular systole, and as a conduit for the passage of stored blood from the LA to the LV during early ventricular diastole.87 Increased LA size is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes.88, 89, 90 An increase in atrial size most commonly is related to increased

Aortic Measurements

Recordings should be made from the parasternal long-axis acoustic window to visualize the aortic root and proximal ascending aorta. Two-dimensional images should be used to visualize the LV outflow tract and the aortic root should be recorded in different views in varying intercostal spaces and at different distances from the left sternal border. Right parasternal views, recorded with the patient in a right lateral decubitus position, are also useful. Measurements are usually taken at: (1)

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