Usefulness of live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the identification of individual segment/scallop prolapse of the mitral valve.

In this report, we present 34 patients in whom surgical intervention was undertaken for severe mitral insufficiency due to mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Location and severity of MVP and regurgitation were assessed preoperatively by live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and closely agreed with the surgical findings.

Usefulness of live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the characterization of ventricular septal defects in adults.

In this report, we present 12 patients (range 14-76 years, mean 40 +/- 22.7 years) who underwent surgical repair of a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Location, size, and surrounding anatomy of the VSD were assessed prior to intervention in all patients with live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE).

Live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of left atrial tumors.

This preliminary study demonstrates the superiority of live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3D TTE) over two-dimensional (2D) TTE in the assessment of left atrial (LA) tumors in four patients studied by us (three myxomas, one hemangioma, all subsequently pathologically proven). Because of the unique ability of live 3D TTE to systematically section and view the contents of an intracardiac mass, LA myxomas in the three patients studied could be more confidently diagnosed by noting isolated echolucent areas consistent with hemorrhage/necrosis in the tumor mass. On the other hand, a definite echolucent area was found by 2D TTE in only two of the three patients with myxoma.

Quantification of mitral regurgitation by live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic measurements of vena contracta area.

We evaluated 44 consecutive patients who underwent standard two-dimensional (2D) and live three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), as well as left heart catheterization with left ventriculography. Mitral regurgitant vena contracta area (VCA) was obtained by 3D TTE by systematic and sequential cropping of the acquired 3D TTE data set. Assessment of mitral regurgitation (MR) by ventriculography was compared to measurements of VCA by 3D TTE and to 2D TTE measurements of MR jet area to left atrial area (RJA/LAA), RJA alone, vena contracta width (VCW), and calculated VCA.

Usefulness of live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the characterization of atrial septal defects in adults.

In this report we present 12 adult patients in whom surgical or percutaneous intervention was considered for repair of atrial septal defect (ASD). Location, size, and surrounding atrial anatomy of the ASD were assessed prior to intervention in all patients with standard and live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3D TTE). In the four patients in whom intraoperative three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic reconstruction (3D TEE) was done, 3D TTE measurements of maximum dimension, maximum circumference, and maximum area of ASD agreed well with 3D TEE.

Images in geriatric cardiology. Usefulness of live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in aortic valve stenosis evaluation.

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) severity can be estimated by various modalities. Due to some of the limitations of the currently available methods, the usefulness of live three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3D TTE) in the assessment of AS was explored. Live 3D TTE was able to visualize the aortic valve orifice in all 11 patients studied.

Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic demonstration of anatomical defects in AV septal defect patients presenting for reoperation.

We present two- and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic findings of two adult patients who presented for reoperation after previous repair of a partial atrioventricular (AV) septal defect. Both patients had a cleft in the left AV valve with severe regurgitation. One patient had an additional 10 x 5 mm defect connecting the left ventricle to the right atrium through the AV junction.

Usefulness of transesophageal three-dimensional echocardiography in the identification of individual segment/scallop prolapse of the mitral valve.

We evaluated the potential usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in assessing individual scallop/segment prolapse in 36 adult patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) undergoing surgical correction. Intraoperative 3D TEE correctly identified the location of scallop/segment prolapse in 34 of 36 patients (94%). However, in 6 of these patients 3D TEE images revealed more scallops or segments with prolapse than the surgeon noted intraoperatively.

Transesophageal three-dimensional echocardiographic demonstration of Ebstein's anomaly.

We report three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic findings in an adult patient with Ebstein's anomaly. Using the anyplane technique and multiple views, especially the short-axis view of tricuspid valve, three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography clearly demonstrated the intermittent tethering of all three leaflets of tricuspid valve to the right ventricular walls giving a "bubble-like" appearance. On the other hand, two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated well the tethering of the septal tricuspid leaflet, but tethering of the other two leaflets was not well seen.

Hemodynamic evaluation of normally functioning Sulzer Carbomedics prosthetic valves.

The Sulzer Carbomedics prosthetic heart valve (CP) is a commonly used mechanical valve in clinical practice. In the present study, we used conventional and color Doppler echocardiography to assess the hemodynamics of normally functioning CP in the aortic (n = 73) and mitral (n = 127) positions. Our findings demonstrate no significant correlation of Doppler-measured peak and mean pressure gradients and effective orifice area with implanted valve size and actual orifice areas, measured directly by the manufacturer for CPs in both the mitral and aortic positions.

Volume quantification of intracardiac mass lesions by transesophageal three-dimensional echocardiography.

As compared with two-dimensional (2-D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), 3-D echocardiography now permits more realistic visualization of cardiac anatomy and of intracardiac lesions. The aim of this study was to apply newer 3-D echocardiographic techniques to quantify volumes of intracardiac masses undergoing surgical resection seen during an intraoperative TEE. The calculated volumes were compared with actual in vitro measurements of surgically resected masses.

Transesophageal Three-Dimensional Echo Assessment of Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect.

The incremental value of three-dimensional echocardiography over transesophageal multiplane two-dimensional imaging in the assessment of sinus venosus atrial septal defect is demonstrated in the present study.

Transesophageal Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Assessment of Normal and Stenosed Coronary Arteries.

We describe our preliminary experience in assessing normal and stenosed coronary arteries using transesophageal three-dimensional echocardiography (3-D echo) in 27 adult patients. Multiplane transesophageal two-dimensional images of the coronary arteries (20 left, 3 right, 3 both left and right, and 1 posterior descending) were first acquired in the TomTec computer in 3 degrees sequential increments, from 0 degrees to 180 degrees, and then 3-D reconstruction was performed. The entire left main (LMC, measuring 0.