Echocardiographic estimation of pulmonary arterial pressure

Abstract

Technological advances in echocardiography over last 30 years have increased the accuracy in anatomical and functional evaluation of right cardiac cavities, as well as in estimation of pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary hemodynamic evaluation. Conclusions derived from an echocardiographic report should suggest the probability of pulmonary hypertension depending on the elements that allow to estimate the systolic, diastolic and/or mean pulmonary artery pressure in addition to the presence of indirect elements of pulmonary hypertension. We analyze the evidence that supports the usefulness of different echocardiographic methods for estimation of pulmonary pressure. It is very important that the cardiologist keep in mind the different methods -direct and indirect- that allow to evaluate it.