الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
AF can lead to a fall in cardiac output that is often clinically significant. Potential consequences include a fall in blood pressure, decreased exercise capacity, and pulmonary congestion, all of which are manifestations of heart failure (HF). In addition, AF and HF often occur together, and each may predispose to the other. (9)
The right ventricle plays an important role in the morbidity and mortality of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of cardiopulmonary disease. However, the systematic assessment of right heart function is not uniformly carried out. This is due partly to the enormous attention given to the evaluation of the left heart, a lack of familiarity with ultrasound techniques that can be used in imaging the right heart, and a paucity of ultrasound studies providing normal reference values of right heart size and function. (91)
Routine performance of transthoracic echocardiography is suggested for all patients presenting with their first episode of AF to obtain information regarding atrial size, ventricular function, possible pericardial effusion, and valvular function. Repeated transthoracic echocardiographic examinations for recurrent AF are not necessary unless the clinical presentation has changed. (92-94)
The right ventricle has long been neglected, yet it is RV function that is strongly associated with clinical outcomes in many conditions. Although the left ventricle has been studied extensively, with established normal values for dimensions, volumes, mass, and function, measures of RV size and function are lacking. The relatively predictable left ventricular (LV) shape and standardized imaging planes have helped establish norms in LV assessment. There are, however, limited data regarding the normal dimensions of the right ventricle, in part because of its complex shape. (95)