FIGURE 3.

Right atrial (RA) emptying, right ventricular (RV) filling and vena cava backflow. Data are presented as mean±sem. p-values were calculated with Tukey's post hoc analysis and family-wise correction for multiple testing. a) RA passive emptying was similar in all groups. b) RA active emptying was much higher in all patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. c) RA stroke work was estimated by multiplying RA active emptying with the end-diastolic pressure. d) RV passive filling was strongly reduced in all patients. e) RV active filling was preserved in patients with low end-diastolic elastance (E_ed) (<0.63 mmHg·mL⁻¹), but lower in patients with high E_ed (>0.63 mmHg·mL⁻¹). f) Vena cava backflow represents the difference between RA active emptying and RV active filling.