Dr Ivana Petrović, Cardiovascular Institute “DEDINJE”, Belgrade, Serbia
Echocardiography is a golden standard in evaluation of heart function and disease diagnosis. Standard two-dimensional echocardiography is a valuable imaging tool, but has its own limits due to a lack of three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction. Echocardiographist should use a mental power to understand very complex 3D heart structures, just from a 2D recordings, what is frequently dificult, particulary in complicated heart pathology and anatomy.
Echocardiography is a golden standard in evaluation of heart function and disease diagnosis. Standard two-dimensional echocardiography is a valuable imaging tool, but has its own limits due to a lack of three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction. Echocardiographist should use a mental power to understand very complex 3D heart structures, just from a 2D recordings, what is frequently dificult, particulary in complicated heart pathology and anatomy.
Three-dimensional echocardiography use a powerfull software to reconstruct recordings aquired by a high-tec 3D echocardiographic probe, and reproduce a clear and understandable image what is essential in understanding complex valvular function and diseases. This is due to a technology that recontructs multiplane echocardiographic cuts into a tree-dimensional picture. If performed in real-time, 3D echocardiography it is state of the art dignostic tool of a highest value used during the open heart surgery.
3D echocardiography is highly useful in mitral valve repair surgery. Accurate 3D analysis before and during the procedure helps us understanding the complex mechanism of mitral valve prolapse. Surgeon is therefore more comfortable to realise prolapse location and its cause, as well, what is of highest importance in deccision making particulary in port access mitral valve repair. Possibility of real time image acquisition, made 3D echocardiography an esential tool in percutaneous valvular interventions, or novel less invasive repairs, like a transapical neo-chorade application.
