Three-dimensional echocardiography to assess left ventricular geometry and function.

Three-dimensional echocardiography to assess left ventricular geometry and function. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2019 Nov 26;: Authors: Guta AC, Badano LP, Ochoa-Jimenez RC, Genovese D, Previtero M, Civera S, Ruocco A, Bettella N, Parati G, Muraru D Abstract Introduction: Quantification of left ventricular (LV) size and function represents the most frequent indication for an echocardiographic study. New echocardiographic techniques have been developed over the last decades in an attempt to provide a more comprehensive, accurate and reproducible assessment of LV function.Areas covered: Although two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is the recommended imaging modality to evaluate the LV, three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) has proven to be more accurate, by avoiding geometric assumptions about LV geometry, and to have incremental value for outcome prediction in comparison to conventional 2DE. LV shape (sphericity) and mass are actually measured with 3DE. Myocardial deformation analysis using 3DE can early detect subclinical LV dysfunction, before any detectable change in LV ejection fraction.Expert opinion: 3DE eliminates the errors associated with foreshortening and geometric assumptions inherent to 2DE and 3DE measurements approach very closely those obtained by CMR (the current reference modality), while maintaining the unique clinical advantage of a safe, highly cost/effective, portable imaging technique, available to the car...
Source: Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy - Category: Cardiology Tags: Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther Source Type: research