Three-dimensional echocardiography in adult patients: comparison between transthoracic and transesophageal reconstructions

• Published in: Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography Vol. 12; no. 12; p. 1045
• Main Authors: Godoy, I E, Bednarz, J, Sugeng, L, Mor-Avi, V, Spencer, K T, Lang, R M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.1999
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aortic Valve - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Valve Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Diagnosis, Differential; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Feasibility Studies; Female; Heart Atria - diagnostic imaging; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve - diagnostic imaging; Mitral Valve Prolapse - diagnostic imaging; Mitral Valve Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Predictive Value of Tests; Thorax - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0894-7317
• DOI: 10.1016/s0894-7317(99)70100-8

Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is a relatively new technique typically implemented with transesophageal imaging with multiplane transducers. The goals of this study were (1) to test the feasibility of 3D reconstruction with a new transthoracic multiplane transducer in adult subjects with excellent quality of 2-dimensional images and (2) to compare these reconstructions with those obtained in the same patients with the transesophageal approach. Transthoracic multiplane image acquisition was performed in 37 patients who were selected on the basis of the quality of their 2-dimensional images. In addition, transesophageal acquisition was also performed in 19 of 37 patients. Three-dimensional reconstruction of mitral and aortic valves was performed. Three-dimensional images were reviewed, and the visualization of various anatomic features was graded. The reconstruction of 25 mitral valves and 16 aortic valves, normal and pathologic, was feasible and resulted in visualization of anatomic detail. Score indexes of all valvular characteristics studied were not significantly different when transthoracic and transesophageal reconstructions were compared. Transthoracic 3D echocardiography with a multiplane transducer in adult patients with good acoustic windows is feasible. This technique will allow easy noninvasive serial assessment of valvular pathophysiologic characteristics.