Appreciating the Strengths and Weaknesses of Transthoracic Echocardiography in Hemodynamic Assessments

Table 1

Common cardiac information which can be provided by a standard TTE.

Left heart	(i) Dimensions: chamber sizes and thickness
	(ii) Left ventricular ejection fraction
	(iii) Regional wall motion abnormalities
Right heart	(i) Dimensions: chamber size and thickness
	(ii) Right ventricular systolic function: FAC or TAPSE
	(iii) Signs of pressure or volume overload
Valvular pathologies	(i) Regurgitations
	(ii) Stenoses
	(iii) Prolapses
	(iv) Presence of vegetation
Aorta	(i) Dilatation
	(ii) Dissection
Estimation of pressures	(i) Pulmonary artery systolic pressure
	(ii) Left ventricular filling pressure
	(iii) Transvalvular pressure gradients
Other	Pericardial effusion and tamponade

FAC: fractional area contraction; TAPSE: tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion.