Simplified Bernouli Equation

Simplified Bernouli Equation for measurement of RV Systolic pressure:

[A] RVSP = 4(V/2)² + RAP
[B] RVSP = 0.9V² + RAP
[C] RVSP = 4(V)² + RAP
[D] RVSP = 0.7(V)² + RAP

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The gold standard for grading pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) is with the Mean Pulmonary Pressure Gradient obtained via cardiac catheterization. With echocardiography the industry standard is to obtain the RVSP and use these values to evaluate for pulmonary hypertension.

According to the 2010 ASE Guidelines for Echocardiographic Assessment of the Right Heart in Adults, they explain a basic concept:

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	Simplified Bernouli Equation
1	Simplified Bernouli Equation: RVSP = 4(V)² + RAP
2	Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure (SPAP) = RVSP (In the absence of RVOT obstruction)
3	RVSP ≥ 40 mmHg + Dyspnea = PHTN Present: Further Evaluation Recommended

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The simplified Bernoulli equation is widely used in RVSP to estimate pressure gradients across valves or chambers of the heart based on bloo d flow velocity.

🔹 Simplified Bernoulli Equation:

ΔP = 4V²

Where:

• ΔP\Delta P = pressure gradient (in mmHg)
• V = velocity of blood flow (in meters per second, m/s)

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💡 Use in Echocardiography:

This equation allows cardiologists to estimate pressure differences across cardiac structures by measuring Doppler velocity.

✅ Common Applications:

• Estimating right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP)
• Assessing valve stenosis (e.g., aortic or mitral stenosis)
• Evaluating regurgitant lesions

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🧠 Why Simplified?

The full Bernoulli equation includes terms for viscous losses and flow acceleration. In cardiac settings:

• Viscosity and acceleration are usually negligible.
• simplified echocardiography, the Bernoulli equation, used to estimate pressure gradients, is ΔP = 4(V²), where ΔP is the pressure gradient and V is the peak velocity measured by Doppler echocardiography

Want an example of how it’s used in practice, like calculating RVSP from a tricuspid regurgitation jet?

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