Live Three‐Dimensional Transthoracic Echocardiography: Case Study World Atlas

Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography are well established and widely used noninvasive diagnostic tools which provide critical information about ventricular function, valvular abnormalities, hemodynamic data, and complex congenital disease. The introduction of transesophageal probes in the 1980’s allowed higher resolution imaging which enhanced diagnostic capabilities thereby aiding in decision making. Nevertheless, both imaging techniques are limited because they provide cross-sectional views of the heart which require mental integration by the operator to conceptualize a threedimensional image from multiple tomographic cuts. Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) has obvious advantages over conventional twodimensional cardiac ultrasound methods. More accurate measurements of left and right ventricular volumes can be obtained with 3DE because this imaging method does not rely on geometric assumptions to calculate quantitative parameters. Moreover, 3DE allows visualization of valves from an atrial or ventricular perspective, thus offering better insight into the complex pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the disease process. Spatial relationships between normal and abnormal cardiac landmarks are better depicted using 3DE. This advantage is particularly helpful when assessing complex congenital heart diseases, cardiac tumors, and abnormally functioning prosthetic heart valves. Despite these advantages, 3DE techniques have not been embraced in routine clinical practice due to several factors, including cumbersome data acquisition required