Relative Atrial Index
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The Relative Atrial Index (RAI) is a numeric parameter used to assess for cardiac shunt defects. It is calculated from the standard transthoracic Doppler echocardiogram measurements of the right atrial area divided by the left atrial area. RAI = right atrial area / left atrial area. These measurements are made from the apical four chamber view.
Large validation studies in patients with known atrial septal defects showed that the RAI > 1.0 in the majority of cases. This is in contrast to matched and population controls, where the RAI was significantly below 1.0.[1] This simple numeric parameter has found a role in the diagnostic work-up for possible shunt defects on standard tranthorcaic echocardiograms. The RAI rapidly normalizes within 24 hours of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects. Secondary validationstudies have confirmed the data in discrete patient populations </ref> The Relative Atrial Index - A Transthoracic Echocardiographic Indicator of Intracardiac Shunt Status Pre and Post Amplatzer Atrial Septal Defect Closure. Tegan E Draheim; Natalie F Kelly; Sudhir Wahi; Stephen V Cox; Darren L Walters; Darryl J Burstow; Gregory M Scalia. Circulation. 2011; 124: A11559 </ref>
The RAI was conceptualized in 2008 by Dr Gregory M Scalia (Cardiologist, the University of Queensland, The Prince Charles Hospital) in response to observed clinical inadequacies of standard transthoracic echocardiography in some shunt conditions. This author had developed several Doppler echocardiographic numeric parameters over the last two decades to assess cardiac diastolic function [2][3] and ePLAR (The echocardiographic Pulmonary to Left Atrial Ratio) for the assessment of pulmonary hypertension physiology.
See also
- Medical ultrasonography section: Doppler sonography
- Echocardiography
- American Society of Echocardiography
- Christian Doppler
References
- ^ “The Relative Atrial Index (RAI) – A Novel, Simple, Reliable and Robust Transthoracic Echocardiographic Indicatory of Atrial Defects”. Natalie F Kelly, Darren Walters, Lisa Hourigan, Darryl J Burstow, Gregory M Scalia. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2010;23:275-81.
- ^ Non-Invasive Assessment of the Ventricular Relaxation Time Constant (τ) in Humans by Doppler Echocardiography. Gregory M. Scalia, Neil L. Greenberg, Patrick M. McCarthy, James D. Thomas, Pieter M. Vandervoort. Circulation 1997;95:151-5
- ^ Color M-mode and Doppler-derived tau (τ) as practical advances in clinical diastology - the TauCoMM project. G.M. Scalia and D.J. Burstow. Heart, Lung and Circulation 1999 Vol. 9, Issue 3, Page A13.