The role of 3-dimensional echocardiography in evaluating congenital heart diseases

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and efficacy of the real-time transthoracic 3-dimensional echocardiography (RTT-3DE) technique in providing more detailed information compared to 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) in patients with structural heart disease, and to explore its application in routine clinical use.

METHODS: This cross sectional study was carried out at the Prince Sultan Cardiac Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January to June 2009. Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) were evaluated by conventional 2DE followed by RTT-3DE using dedicated software and a standard protocol. The 3DE studies were graded as: A - new finding not on 2DE; B - useful anatomic perspective; C - equivalent to 2DE; or D - missed 2DE findings.

RESULTS: Fifty patients, 29 (58%) males and 21 (42%) females with age range from one month to 17 years compose the study group. The 2DE showed 12 (24%) right heart and 18 (36%) left heart lesions, 12 (24%) septal defects, one (2%) aortopulmonary window, 4 (8%) complex CHD, and 3 (6%) borderline left ventricular volume. When compared with the 2DE studies, 3DE studies were graded A in 25, B in 24, and C in one case.

CONCLUSION: The results in this study show that the RTT-3DE technique is feasible and very effective in providing more detailed information compared with 2DE in structural heart disease evaluation.