Comparison of M-mode echocardiographic measurement of right ventricular wall thickness obtained by the subcostal and parasternal approach in children.

Right ventricular (RV) wall thickness was measured from M-mode echocardiograms at end-diastole from both the parasternal and subcostal approaches in 50 children of various body surface areas (0.24 to 1.68 m2). The measurements were obtained from M-mode recordings generated from sector scans to ensure precise location and position. Twenty-three children had normal hearts, and 27 had various congenital heart defects that may be associated with RV hypertrophy. Corresponding measurements of the RV wall thickness at end-diastole from the 2 approaches were similar. Subcostal echocardiographic measurement of RV wall thickness was found to be a reliable alternative to parasternal measurement in children with normal hearts and in those with congenital heart disease and RV hypertrophy.