Quantitative analysis of the left main coronary artery by 3D echocardiography. Role, possibilities and limitations of noninvasive imaging of the left coronary artery

• Published in: Zeitschrift für Kardiologie Vol. 91; no. 1; pp. 33 - 39
• Main Authors: Fischer, T A, Menzel, T, Kölsch, B, Kolfhaus, B, Mohr-Kahaly, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.01.2002
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Disease - complications; Coronary Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Vessels - diagnostic imaging; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Female; Heart Valve Diseases - complications; Humans; Male; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 0300-5860

The left main coronary artery was investigated in 30 patients using a transesophageal approach, and a 3D reconstruction of the 2D databases was performed. Two groups of patients were analyzed. First, patients with calcified aortic stenosis were investigated and the reconstructed data obtained were compared to the left ventricular angiogram of the left coronary artery. Second, the 2D databases of patients with non-calcified aortic valve and aortic anulus were reconstructed using the 3D technique. In group 1 the estimate in size of the left ventricular coronary artery was closely related to the diameter of the left coronary artery as obtained by the coronary angiogram (mean difference 0.08 mm, interval of confidence at 95%, -0.48 and +0.32 mm). In both groups a substantial increase in imaging of the left coronary artery was obtained compared to the standard 2D echocardiographic view (% in group 1, and % in group 2, respectively). Independent of the 3D reconstruction of the left coronary artery in the any-plane mode, an orthogonal imaging of the artery could be obtained in only 15% of patients in group 1 but in 40% of patients in group 2. We conclude that 3D reconstruction of the left coronary artery (LAD) is superior to 2D echocardiography in echo-imaging of the proximal part of the LAD and correlates strongly to the diameters measured in the left coronary angiogram. In patients with major calcification of the aortic anulus and/or a calcified native aortic valve this approach is associated with multiple artifacts in imaging. The rapid technical evolution in this technique including improvement in computer technology and appropriate software may ensure a further important role of 3D echo imaging in noninvasive visualization of the normal and diseased left main coronary artery.