Key result
3D echocardiography improves mitral valve anatomical evaluation and surgical communication over standard 2D imaging.
Why the study?
Assessing mitral valve pathology for emerging valve repair techniques with 2D echocardiography requires mental 3D reconstruction from multiple imaging planes, which achieves varying success and complicates communication with the surgeon. The advent of 3D echocardiography promises more consistent and accurate anatomical evaluation and more effective communication between the echocardiographer and the surgeon.
May enhance mitral valve assessment and surgeon communication; leaves open prospective outcome validation.
Clinical echocardiography began as a one-dimensional (1D) technique using initially the A-mode (Amplitude mode) and then the M-mode (time-motion mode) with dedicated investigators exploring the potential applications. The development of two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography expanded the applications and resulted in more widespread applications of the technique. In order to overcome the problem of examining three dimensional (3D) structures, such as the heart with its intricate anatomy, several windows for 2D imaging have been developed. This approach requires a mental reconstruction of the intracardiac anatomy based on multiple 2D imaging planes. A need to define the mitral valve anatomy as related to emerging valve repair techniques resulted in development of systematic transesophageal multiplane images [1,2]. These have permitted accurate assessment of the valve pathology based on mental reconstruction of 3D anatomy with varying success [3]. Even when successful, this approach does not lend itself to easy communication with the surgeon, depending on his/her familiarity with echocardiographic imaging planes. The advent of 3D echocardiography promises to permit more consistent and accurate evaluation of the valvular and other cardiac structures and provide for more effective communication between the echocardiographer and the surgeon.
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Shah et al. (2011) conducted a review in Mitral valve disease requiring surgery. 3D echocardiography vs. 2D echocardiography was evaluated. 3D echocardiography promises more consistent evaluation of mitral valve anatomy and better communication with surgeons compared to mental reconstruction from multiple 2D imaging planes.
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