The RVSP calculation estimates which cardiac parameter?

The RVSP calculation estimates which cardiac parameter?

• A. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure
• B. Right atrial pressure
• C. Right ventricular systolic pressure
• D. Left atrial pressure

Answer: (C)

The calculation uses the Doppler velocity of tricuspid regurgitation to measure the pressure difference between the right ventricle and right atrium. The simplified Bernoulli equation says this gradient is 4 times the velocity squared. By adding an estimate of the right atrial pressure, you obtain the right ventricular systolic pressure. In the absence of pulmonic valve stenosis, the right ventricular systolic pressure closely equals the pulmonary artery systolic pressure, so this RVSP estimate also serves as a proxy for PASP. But conceptually, the calculation determines the pressure inside the right ventricle during systole.

The calculation uses the Doppler velocity of tricuspid regurgitation to measure the pressure difference between the right ventricle and right atrium. The simplified Bernoulli equation says this gradient is 4 times the velocity squared. By adding an estimate of the right atrial pressure, you obtain the right ventricular systolic pressure. In the absence of pulmonic valve stenosis, the right ventricular systolic pressure closely equals the pulmonary artery systolic pressure, so this RVSP estimate also serves as a proxy for PASP. But conceptually, the calculation determines the pressure inside the right ventricle during systole.