Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography complements 2D imaging by providing an en face surgical view of the mitral valve, improving the pre-operative assessment of mitral regurgitation.
3D echocardiography provides crucial detailed imaging that overcomes limitations of 2D TEE for pre-operative planning in complex mitral valve disease.
Mitral regurgitation may develop when the leaflets or any other portion of the apparatus becomes abnormal. As the repair techniques for mitral valve disease evolved, so has the need for detailed and accurate imaging of the mitral valve prior to surgery in order to better define the mechanism of valve dysfunction and the severity of regurgitation. In patients with significant mitral valve disease who require surgical intervention, multiplane transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is invaluable for surgical planning. However, a comprehensive TEE in a patient with complex mitral valve disease requires great experience and skill. There is evidence to suggest that 3D echocardiography can overcome some of the limitations of 2D multiplane TEE and thus is crucial in evaluation of patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. In the following sections, we review some of the crucial 2D and 3D echo images necessary for evaluation of MR based on the Carpentier classification.
Quader et al. (2014) conducted a review in Mitral valve regurgitation. Two and three dimensional transesophageal echocardiography was evaluated. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography complements 2D imaging by providing an en face surgical view of the mitral valve, improving the pre-operative assessment of mitral regurgitation.