Quantitative three-dimensional reconstruction of aneurysmal left ventricles. In vitro and in vivo validation.

Background: Current two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) volume are most limited by aneurysmal distortion, which restricts application of simple geometric models that assume symmetrical shape. 2D methods also fail to provide separate volumes of the aneurysm and nonaneurysmal residual LV cavity, which could help assess the stroke volume wasted by dyskinesis and the potential residual LV body to guide surgical approaches and predict their outcome. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic reconstruction has potential advantages for assessing aneurysmal left ventricles because it is not dependent on geometric assumptions, does not require standardized views that may exclude portions of the aneurysm, and can potentially measure separate aneurysm and nonaneurysm cavity volumes of any shape.