Know your right from left heart. In a perfect world probe positioning would be right every time and you’d just know the right heart is on screen left. However no one is perfect and it’s important to know your right from left heart to prevent errors like calling right heart strain when there isn’t. Here are some tips to help (even when your image is flipped like this one):
- Descending thoracic aorta is associated with the left atrium
- Look for left ventricular outflow tract/aortic valve in left ventricle
- Tricuspid valve insertion onto septum is more apical
- Tapered right ventricle shape
- Moderator band is sometimes visible in the right ventricle
Happy scanning everyone!