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Cor triatriatum sinister (CTS) patri k zriedkavým vrodeným srdcovým anomaliam. Zvycajne je ľava predsieň rozdelena membranou, ktora brani pritoku krvi cez pľucne žily k mitralnej chlopni a sposobuje klinicke priznaky ako u mitralnej stenozy s pľucnou kongesciou a pľucnou hypertenziou. Najlepsim sposobom liecby je chirurgicke odstranenie membrany, ale je možna aj katetrizacna intervencia. V nasom prispevku uvadzame pripad pacienta s vrodenou anomaliou CTS, u ktoreho sme uspesne, katetrizacne balonom dilatovali stenotický otvor v membrane s priaznivým hemodynamickým a klinickým výsledkom. © 2021, CKS.

Embolia koronarnych arterii je menej castou pricinou akutneho infarktu myokardu. Predstavujeme kazuistiku 22-rocnej pacientky s dvojvtokovou ľavou komorou, defektom komoroveho septa a pulmonalnou stenozou po Fontanovej operacii s akutnym spodným STEMI na embolickom podklade. Okrem znamych rizik veducich k trombotickým komplikaciam spojeným s Fontanovskou cirkulaciou, medzi potencialne predisponujuce faktory trombembolizmu u tejto pacientky patrili vytvorenie trombu v dolnej dutej žile a nedostatocna antikoagulacna liecba. Tato kazuistika predstavuje jednu z prvých dokumentovaných embolických pricin STEMI u pacienta s Fontanovskou cirkulaciou. Doteraz nie je vytvorený konsenzus, že antikoagulacna terapia warfarinom je u pacientov s Fontanovskou cirkulaciou superiorna voci aspirinu v primarnej prevencii trombembolických prihod. © 2021, CKS.

Non-iatrogenic left atrial wall dissection is a rare lesion defined as a gap from the mitral valve annulus to the interatrial septum or wall of the left atrium. We report the case of a 57-year-old man with symptoms of acute cardiac and renal failure. Trans-esophageal echocardiography and computed tomography showed significant mitral valve regurgitation and dissection of the posterior wall of the left atrium. On the basis of detailed trans-esophageal echocardiography, the patient underwent mitral valve replacement with closure of the dissection orifice, which appears to be the appropriate therapeutic strategy in cases of spontaneous left atrial wall dissection.

Nekrytý koronarny sinus (UCS) predstavuje najvzacnejsi typ defektu predsieňoveho septa s incidenciou menej ako 1 % zo vsetkých defektov predsieňoveho septa, alebo menej ako 0,1 % zo vsetkých vrodených chýb srdca. Kazuistika popisuje pripad 57-rocneho pacienta, u ktoreho bola symptomatologia pritomna styri roky pred spravnym stanovenim diagnozy. Pacient udaval dlhodobo dýchavicnosť, bolesti na hrudniku a v poslednom obdobi bola dokumentovana pritomnosť fibrilacie predsieni. Diagnoza UCS bola urcena na zaklade pravostrannej katetrizacie srdca, echokardiografie a pocitacovej tomografie. Pacient podstupil chirurgický výkon. Vykonana bola okluzia defektu s redirekciou koronarneho sinu do ľavej predsiene. UCS je v 75 % pripadov spojený s pritomnosťou ďalsej vrodenej malformacie srdca, najcastejsie s perzistenciou ľavostrannej hornej dutej žily. Pre izolovaný UCS je prekrytie zaplatou zo strany pravej predsiene postacujucou chirurgickou metodou s dobrými dlhodobými výsledkami. Pritomnosť perzistentnej ľavostrannej hornej dutej žily vyžaduje technicky narocnejsiu operaciu s okluziou defektu zo strany ľavej predsiene, alebo s redirekciou ľavostrannej hornej dutej žily do pravej predsiene.

Aims The aim of this pilot study was to compare selected three‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D STE) parameters in patients with ischaemic and non‐ischaemic aetiology of heart failure (HF) and to identify indices that can differentiate the two pathologies. Methods and results Forty patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% were included to the study: 20 patients (age 63 ± 9.0 years, LVEF 29.0 ± 11.3%) with ischaemic cardiomyopathy and 20 patients (age 64.0 ± 11.0 years, LVEF 27.3 ± 7.5%) with non‐ischaemic cardiomyopathy. All patients underwent two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography. Standard echocardiographic parameters, global longitudinal strain, and rotational parameters of left ventricle (LV) were assessed using 3D speckle tracking (3D STE). There were no differences in standard and STE parameters between the two groups. Among rotational parameters, the LV apical rotation (4.9 ± 3.5° vs. 2.3 ± 2.4°, P = 0.0022) was significantly higher in patients with ischaemic HF. Among all echocardiographic parameters, a cut‐off value of 3.28° (area under the curve 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.62 to 0.93) was able to distinguish the ischaemic and non‐ischaemic aetiology of HF with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 75%. Conclusions This is the first study that compares 3D STE parameters between patients with ischaemic and non‐ischaemic cardiomyopathy. It was proved that the apical rotation was significantly higher in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Our findings suggest that 3D STE might be useful in non‐invasive differentiation between ischaemic and non‐ischaemic aetiology of HF.

BACKGROUND There were gaps between guidelines and practice when surgery was the only treatment for aortic stenosis (AS). OBJECTIVES This study analyzed the decision to intervene in patients with severe AS in the EORP VHD (EURObservational Research Programme Valvular Heart Disease) II survey. METHODS Among 2,152 patients with severe AS, 1,271 patients with high-gradient AS who were symptomatic fulfilled a Class I recommendation for intervention according to the 2012 European Society of Cardiology guidelines; the primary end point was the decision for intervention. RESULTS A decision not to intervene was taken in 262 patients (20.6%). In multivariate analysis, the decision not to intervene was associated with older age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.34 per 10-year increase; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.61; P = 0.002), New York Heart Association functional classes I and II versus III (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.16 to 2.30; P = 0.005), higher age adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (OR: 1.09 per 1-point increase; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.17; P = 0.03), and a lower transaortic mean gradient (OR: 0.81 per 10-mm Hg decrease; 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.92; P < 0.001). During the study period, 346 patients (40.2%, median age 84 years, median EuroSCORE II [European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II] 3.1%) underwent transcatheter intervention and 515 (59.8%, median age 69 years, median EuroSCORE II 1.5%) underwent surgery. A decision not to intervene versus intervention was associated with lower 6-month survival (87.4%; 95% CI: 82.0 to 91.3 vs 94.6%; 95% CI: 92.8 to 95.9; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS A decision not to intervene was taken in 1 in 5 patients with severe symptomatic AS despite a Class I recommendation for intervention and the decision was particularly associated with older age and combined comorbidities. Transcatheter intervention was extensively used in octogenarians. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2021;78:2131-2143) (c) 2021 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Cardiac damage in severe aortic stenosis (AS) is not limited to the aortic valve and left ventricle, but is a systemic disease characterized by a significant alteration in cardiac structure and function. Therefore, a new classification of AS based on the degree of myocardial damage was proposed. A significant number of patients with AS have right ventricular dysfunction likely due to ventricular interdependence. Relationship between right ventricular dysfunction and increased mortality in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with severe AS was demonstrated. These patients could benefit more from intervention. Therefore, a standardized echocardiographic examination of a patients with severe aortic stenosis should provide a detailed analysis of right ventricular function.

The left atrial appendage (LAA) strain and strain rate have not yet been studied in the prediction of cardiac thromboembolism. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the significance of LAA strain and strain rate as assessed by speckle-tracking imaging in relation to documented thromboembolic events. A group of 80 patients with a mean age of 65 years who were referred for electrical cardioversion of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation was retrospectively analyzed. Each patient underwent 2D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Velocity vector imaging (VVI)-derived LAA strain and strain rate in parallel with other conventional TEE predictors were analyzed in terms of their association with previous embolic stroke and peripheral embolization. By comparing the two groups of patients with (22/80) and without embolic events (58/80), patients with embolic events were older, had higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores, higher incidence of coronary artery disease and LAA thrombi, and worse LAA strain and strain rate. Moreover, patients without embolization more often used anticoagulants than patients with embolic events. After adjusting for the abovementioned embolic risk factors, only the CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years [double weight], diabetes mellitus, stroke [double weight], vascular disease, age from 65 to 74 years, sex category) score and the LAA strain rate remained as significant predictors of embolic events. The results of the study show that the VVI-derived LAA strain rate is a significant predictor of documented ischemic stroke and systemic thromboembolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Its predictive power is similar to the predictive power of the CHA2DS2-VASc score.

Background Adenosine may play a role in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope (VVS). The aim of the study was to evaluate the adenosine A(2A) receptor gene 1083 T > C polymorphism in patients with syncope and its possible association with results of head-up tilt test (HUT). Methods Three hundred and forty-seven consecutive patients (mean age 47.3 ± 18.5 years, 132 men, 215 women) with one or more syncopal episodes underwent HUT as part of standardized diagnostic evaluation. HUT was positive in 207 patients (75 males, mean age 44.7 ± 18.6 years) and negative in 140 patients (58 males, mean age 48.17 ± 18.8 years). One thousand and eighty-three T > C single nucleotide polymorphism in the adenosine A(2A) receptor gene (rs5751876) was evaluated in 347 patients with syncope and in 85 subjects without history of syncope (54 men, mean age 41.7 ± 16.3). Results Adenosine A(2A) receptor 1083 T > C polymorphism was not associated with the positivity of HUT. Blood pressure and heart rate response to tilting was similar in all genotypes. Low frequency (LF) power was significantly lower in CC genotype compared to CT genotype in early phase of tilt (log LF 2.69 ± 0.61 vs 3.20 ± 0.60; P = 0.01) and at the time of syncope (log LF 2.60 ± 0.63 vs 2.77 ± 0.48; P = 0.04). Conclusions Adenosine A(2A) receptor 1083 T > C polymorphism is not associated with the positivity of HUT and its proposed role in predisposition to VVS was not confirmed. CC genotype may be associated with lower sympathetic activity during HUT.

Cieľ: Kratkodobe až strednedobe výsledky zachovných operacii aortalnej chlopne na nasom pracovisku.Metodika: V obdobi od I/2008 do VIII/ 2010 bolo na Klinike srdcovej chirurgie VUSCH, a.s., a LF UPJS v Kosiciach vykonaných celkovo 17 chirurgických rekonstrukcii koreňa aorty, respektive aortalnej chlopne. Do pooperacneho sledovania bolo zaradených 15 pacientov, jeden pacient exitoval vo vcasnom pooperacnom obdobi a u jedneho pacienta bola potrebna vcasna reoperacia s vykonanim nahrady aortalnej chlopne. Priemerný vek operovaných pacientov bol 55 ± 9 rokov, priemerný stupeň predoperacnej aortalnej regurgitacie (AR) bol 2,44 ± 1,2. Dilatacia aortalneho koreňa ako pricina AR bola diagnostikovana u 12 pacientov, u dvoch pacientov bola aortalna regurgitacia zapricinena akutnou disekciou typu A a u troch pacientov bola regurgitacia sposobena malkoaptaciou cipov aortalnej chlopne. V piatich pripadoch bola vykonana suprakoronarna nahrada vzostupnej aorty, v osmich nahrada vzostupnej aorty s reimplantaciou aortalnej chlopne, v ďalsich dvoch remodelacia aortalniho koreňa a u dvoch pacientov izolovana plastika aortalnej chlopne. Vsetky výkony na koreni aorty boli kombinovane s výkonom na cipoch chlopne. K pooperacnej kontrole sa dostavilo 11 pacientov (73,3 %).Výsledky: Priemerna dĺžka mimoteloveho obehu (MTO) bola 159 ± 44 min a kardioplegickej zastavy srdca 126 ± 48 min. V pooperacnom obdobi exitoval jeden pacient, s diagnozou akutnej disekcie typu A, na nasledky multiorganoveho zlyhania pri hypoperfuzii splanchnických organov z dovodu malperfuzie (MOF). Skora reoperacia z dovodu zlyhania rekonstrukcneho výkonu bola indikovana u jedneho pacienta. Stupeň aortalnej regurgitacie sa znižil z 2,44 ± 1,2 predoperacne na 0,81 ± 0,56 pooperacne (p < 0,01). Pooperacne sledovanie trvalo 10 (3-28) mesiacov. Z poctu pacientov, ktori sa dostavili k pooperacnej kontrole, malo AR < 2 devať pacientov (81,8 %), u ďalsich dvoch (18,2 %) bola AR 2. Za obdobie VIII/2010 až I/2011 sme vykonali uspesne rekonstrukcie aortalnej chlopne u ďalsich styroch pacientov, tito ale zatiaľ neboli do suboru zaradeni.Zaver: Na zaklade nasich prvých skusenosti sa domnievame, že rekonstrukcne výkony aortalnej chlopne, napriek vyssej technickej narocnosti, je možne vykonavať s prijateľnou mierou pooperacnej morbidity a mortality a v indikovaných pripadoch predstavuju zaujimavu terapeuticku alternativu oproti nahrade chlopne s potencialnymi výhodami pre operovaných pacientov.

Adenosine may play a role in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope (VVS). The aim of the study was to evaluate the adenosine A(2A) receptor gene 1083 TC polymorphism in patients with syncope and its possible association with results of head-up tilt test (HUT).Three hundred and forty-seven consecutive patients (mean age 47.3 ± 18.5 years, 132 men, 215 women) with one or more syncopal episodes underwent HUT as part of standardized diagnostic evaluation. HUT was positive in 207 patients (75 males, mean age 44.7 ± 18.6 years) and negative in 140 patients (58 males, mean age 48.17 ± 18.8 years). One thousand and eighty-three TC single nucleotide polymorphism in the adenosine A(2A) receptor gene (rs5751876) was evaluated in 347 patients with syncope and in 85 subjects without history of syncope (54 men, mean age 41.7 ± 16.3).Adenosine A(2A) receptor 1083 TC polymorphism was not associated with the positivity of HUT. Blood pressure and heart rate response to tilting was similar in all genotypes. Low frequency (LF) power was significantly lower in CC genotype compared to CT genotype in early phase of tilt (log LF 2.69 ± 0.61 vs 3.20 ± 0.60; P = 0.01) and at the time of syncope (log LF 2.60 ± 0.63 vs 2.77 ± 0.48; P = 0.04).Adenosine A(2A) receptor 1083 TC polymorphism is not associated with the positivity of HUT and its proposed role in predisposition to VVS was not confirmed. CC genotype may be associated with lower sympathetic activity during HUT.

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the prediction of all-cause mortality from global longitudinal strain (GLS) in two groups of chronic kidney disease patients (CKD): predialysis and dialysis. In 89 patients undergoing echocardiography, 37.2 % predialysis (16/43) and 58.6 % dialysis patients (27/46) died during the mean follow-up 70.2 ± 35 months. In addition to conventional echocardiographic measurements, GLS was assessed by velocity vector imaging from three standard apical views. Cox proportional hazards regression enter model showed the following variables to predict survival: the only significant predictor of survival in predialysis patients, among the set of conventional echocardiographic parameters was GLS (HR, 0.58; 95 % CI, 0.39–0.87; p = 0.01). In the group of dialysis patients GLS with E/Em ratio remained as significant predictors of survival (HR, 0.72; 95 % CI, 0.56–0.92; p = 0.01, and HR, 1.02; 95 % CI, 1.004–1.04; p = 0.01, respectively). GLS ≥ − 13.2 % had 58.3 % sensitivity and 91.7 % specificity for prediction of mortality in predialysis patients, and GLS ≥ − 12.02 % had 73.3 % sensitivity and 78.9 % specificity for prediction of mortality in dialysis patients. In dialysis group E/Em ratio ˃ 17.02 had 71.4 % sensitivity and 84.2 % specificity for prediction of mortality. Our study demonstrates the incremental value of GLS in prediction of all-cause mortality during a long follow-up period in CKD patients. GLS together with E/Em ratio may be used for the assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function and risk stratification of CKD patients in different stages of renal failure.

The objective of this study was to validate the additional value of 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for patients with mitral valve stenosis undergoing percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PTMV). Therefore, in a series of 21 patients with severe mitral valve stenosis selected for PTMV, 3D TEE was performed before and after PTMV. The mitral valve area was assessed by planimetry pre- and post-PTMV; the mitral valve volume was assessed and attention was paid to the amount of fusion of the commissures. These results were compared with findings by 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography using pressure half-time method for assessment of mitral valve area, and were analyzed for the prediction of successful outcome. Pre-PTMV the mitral valve area assessed by 3D TEE was 1.0 +/- 0.3 cm(2) vs 1.2 +/- 0.4 cm(2) assessed by 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (P =.03) and post-PTMV it was 1.8 +/- 0.5 cm(2) vs 1.9 +/- 0.6 cm(2) (not significant), respectively. The mitral valve volume could be assessed by 3D TEE (mean 2.4 +/- 2.5 cm(3)) and was inversely correlated to a successful PTMV procedure (P.001). The 3D TEE method enabled a better description of the mitral valvular anatomy, especially post-PTMV. We conclude that 3D TEE will have additional value over 2-dimensional echocardiography in this group of patients, for selection of patients pre-PTMV, and for analyzing pathology of the mitral valve afterward.

Background Myocardial contractile reserve (CR) is a strong prognostic factor in patients with heart failure. The presence of significant myocardial fibrosis can lead to a reduced response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We assumed that myocardial CR assessed by high-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) would predict response to CRT. Methods Fifty-two consecutive symptomatic patients with heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III), with depressed ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle (26.3 ± 6.9%) and dyssynchronous contractions (QRS duration 149.8 ± 23.8 msec) underwent DSE before CRT implantation. The difference in EF at rest and at peak (40 μg/kg per minute) DSE indicated global CR. Responders to CRT were defined by a decrease in left ventricular end-systolic volume of ≥15% and/or an increase in EF of ≥5% after 6 months of CRT. Results During high-dose dobutamine infusion, responders (28 patients, 54%) showed a greater increase in EF compared with nonresponders (Δ 11 ± 7% vs. Δ 2 ± 9%, P = 0.007). CR correlated moderately with an improvement in EF after 6 months of CRT (r = 0.50, P = 0.0009). Furthermore, responders showed significant improvement in clinical status, evaluated by a reduction in NYHA functional class (−0.8 ± 0.6 vs. 0.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.02), compared with nonresponders. A 7% exercise-induced increase in EF yielded sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 87% in predicting the response to CRT after 6 months. Conclusions Myocardial CR assessed by high-dose DSE can play a potentially important role in identifying responders to CRT.

Background: Overall response rate to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is still not optimal. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the regional myocardial contractile reserve during dobutamine infusion in the area of left ventricular (LV) electrode on the response rate and reverse remodeling LV in patients receiving CRT. Methods: Biventricular pacemaker was implanted in 41 consecutive patients (33 men, mean age 62 ± 10 years) with LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35%, New York Heart Association class III and QRS duration ≥ 120 ms. Myocardial contractile reserve was assessed by LV strain during dobutamine infusion (20 μg/kg/min) using speckle tracking echocardiography. Patients were classified as responders if an increase in LVEF ≥ 5% or decrease in end-systolic volume ≥ 15% was observed after 6 months of CRT. Results: Twenty-four patients were responders and 17 were non-responders. During dobutamine infusion at a rate of 20 μg/kg/min, responders showed significant increase in regional deformation (Δ strain) when compared to non-responders (2.14 ± 2.9 vs. – 0.94 ± 1.74, p = 0.042). Patients with increased deformation in the LV lead area during dobutamine stimulation were more likely to be responders to CRT compared to patients without increased deformation in this area (81% vs. 20%, p = 0.0002). They exhibited significant increase in LVEF (8.8% ± 10.3% vs. 0.3% ± 6.4%, p = 0.01). LV electrode localization in viable myocardium was a good predictor of response to CRT (AUC 0.852, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Regional contractile reserve assessed by strain rate echocardiography during dobutamine infusion predicts the response to CRT.

The aim of our study was to assess the feasibility of a new image analysis, velocity vector imaging (VVI), in the assessment of left atrial volumes (LAV) and left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF). We retrospectively analysed 100 transthoracic echocardiographic findings in 71 men, and 29 women (mean age 57 ± 19.8 years). Two subgroups of patients were defined: (1) with left ventricular (LV) EF > 50%, and (2) LV EF

We studied the value of quantitative three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) in the evaluation of mitral valve stenosis using the measurement of the mitral valve area (MVA) with two new indices: the doming volume and mitral valve volume.A total of 45 consecutive patients with mitral valve stenosis were studied. MVA was measured using Doppler with the pressure half-time (PHT) method. Following a diagnostic multiplane transesophageal (TEE) examination, data for 3DE were acquired with a rotational mode of acquisition. MVA was assessed by anyplane echocardiography (APE) and from surface rendered images. Moreover, the doming volume, i.e., the volume subtended by the anterior and posterior mitral valve and annular cut plane was measured by APE. Comparing PHT-derived with 3DE-derived MVA's, using both APE and surface rendered images, only moderate correlations were observed: PHT-derived MVA versus APE-derived MVA: r = 0.74, P0.0001; PHT-derived area versus 3DE-surface rendered MVA: r = 0.70, P0.0001. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a relation of atrial fibrillation to the doming volume (P = 0.04), but not to PHT-derived MVA (P = 0.28), APE-derived area (P = 0.33) and mitral valve volume (P = 0.08). Comparison of patients with MVA1 cm(2) and MVA1 cm(2) revealed significant difference in mitral valve volume: mean mitral valve volume in critical stenosis was 3.7 ml versus 1.4 ml in non-critical stenosis (P = 0.04).Only moderate correlations between 3DE and Doppler-derived MVA's were observed. Measurement of the doming volume allows quantification of the 3DE geometry of the mitral apparatus. Patients with conical or funnel-like geometry are more likely to have sinus rhythm, whereas, patients with flat geometry are likely to have atrial fibrillation. Mitral valve volume can be used for the evaluation of mitral stenosis severity. These new 3DE indices might be used for selection of patients for balloon valvuloplasty.

Three-dimensional echocardiography offers great promise for improving the understanding of the mitral valve anatomy, function, and pathology. It may have important implications for medical or surgical management of different mitral valve disease. In this article we provide an overview of the three-dimensional anatomy of the mitral valve. Based on the studies using three-dimensional echocardiography we describe the topography of the mitral valve, its nonplanarity as well as dynamics of the mitral annulus. Furthermore, we review the use of three-dimensional echocardiography in the evaluation of different mitral valve disease. Three-dimensional echocardiography has become a new clinical standard in the assessment of the severity of mitral stenosis by means of accurate mitral valve area measurement. Also, unconventional indices, like the geometry and mitral valve volume may be assessed by three-dimensional echocardiography. It is a very suitable technique for monitoring the efficacy and complications of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty. Three-dimensional echocardiography allows accurate identification and quantification of prolapse of individual segments of the mitral valve leaflets. Three-dimensional color flow imaging makes echocardiography an accurate method also in the assessment of mitral regurgitation severity. Finally, we outline three-dimensional echocardiography as a potentially useful guide for a surgeon, particularly in mitral valve repair.

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess effects of translation (horizontal displacement) and angulation (transducer tilting) on 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic volumes of both balloons and human left ventricles after autopsy. Methods: Six water-filled (non-) aneurysmatic balloons of 150, 250, and 350 mL and 3 hearts of different sizes and shapes were suspended upright in a water bath. Angulation and/or translation was performed respectively by tilting the transducer with a mechanical arm in a vertical plane relative to the balloon tip or true apex of the hearts and by shifting the water bath in the same vertical plane. For balloon and left ventricular (LV) volume assessment, a 3D conical data set was obtained by TomTec rotational acquisition in combination with a HP Sonos 5500 ultrasound machine. Results: For the 6 balloons, translation from 1 to 4 cm yielded volumes of up to 74% of the optimal volume (100%); angulation of 10 degrees or 20 degrees, volumes of up to 80% and 34%. Translation with 10-degree angulation yielded volumes up to 64%; for 20-degree angulation and translation, there was no volume loss. Results were similar for the left ventricles. Conclusions: Even minor angulation or translation of the transducer yields substantial underestimation of the true volume. Off-axis para-apical views, however, defined as angulation of 20 degrees and greater than 0.5 cm translation in this in vitro model, obviate volume underestimation. Such views in patients, if obtainable, may be an attractive alternative for conventional apical 3D acquisition, especially in dilated and aneurysmatic hearts. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2002;15:46-54.)

Three-dimensional reconstruction of cardiac structures is becoming increasingly important. Complete spatial visualization of cardiac structures and their relation to each other enable better understanding of both morphologic and functional lesions.