Rapid three-dimensional echocardiography: Clinically feasible alternative for precise and accurate measurement of left ventricular volumes

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 103; no. 24; pp. 2882 - 2884
• Main Authors: BELOHLAVEK, Marek, TANABE, Kazuaki, JAKRAPANICHAKUL, Decho, BREEN, Jerome F, SEWARD, James B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 19.06.2001; American Heart Association, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular system; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional - instrumentation; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional - methods; Feasibility Studies; Female; Heart Diseases - diagnosis; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Linear Models; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Observer Variation; Predictive Value of Tests; Reproducibility of Results; Stroke Volume; Time Factors; Tomography; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Sonography; Human; Echocardiography; Radiodiagnosis; Electron beam; Exploration; Left ventricle; Volume; Medical imagery; Tridimensional image; Computerized axial tomography; Technique; Left ventricle performance; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/hc2401.092234

Clinical applicability of conventional ultrasonographic systems using mechanical adapters for 3D echocardiographic imaging has been limited by long acquisition and processing times. We developed a rapid (6-s) acquisition technique that collects apical tomograms using a continuously internally rotating transthoracic transducer. This study was performed to examine the clinical feasibility of rapid-acquisition 3D echocardiography to estimate left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes using electron-beam computed tomography as the reference standard. Methods and Results-We collected a series of 6 to 11 apical echocardiographic tomograms, depending on heart rate, in 11 patients. There was good correlation, low variability, and low bias between rapid 3D echocardiography and electron-beam computed tomography for measuring left ventricular end-diastolic volume (r=0.96; standard error of the estimate, 21.34 mL; bias, -4.93 mL) and left ventricular end-systolic volume (r=0.96; standard error of the estimate, 14.78 mL; bias, -6.97 mL). The rapid-acquisition 3D echocardiography extends the use of a multiplane, internally rotating handheld transducer so that it becomes a precise and clinically feasible tool for assessing left ventricular volumes and function. A rapid-image acquisition time of 6 s would allow repeated image collection during the course of a clinical echocardiographic examination. Additional work must address rapid and automated data processing.