Transthoracic echocardiography: Improved practice by real-time 3D acquisition and automation

Right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) has been approved of important prognostic in many cardiac diseases. However, RVEF in these studies was mostly evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), radionuclide imaging or even angiography, but not the most accessible echocardiography. Most difficulties of right ventricular assessment by two-dimensional echocardiography come from the unusual crescent shape, the anterior location and the complex contraction mechanism. With recently available dedicated software, three-dimensional echocardiography should bring the innate accessibility in to full play, putting in the last piece, the right ventricle, of puzzle of ventricles.