Application Of Real-Time Three-Dimensional Echocardiography In The Quantantive Evaluation Of Ventricular Septal Defect

ObjectiveTo explore the value of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) in evaluation of ventricular septal defect(VSD).MethodsTwo-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DTTE) and RT3DE was performed in 35 patients with VSD by the Philips iE33 separately. (1) the maximal diameter of VSDs were measured by 2DTTE. (2) The three-dimensional datasets were post-processed with Qlab workstation. "Crop adjustment" and "Plane adjustment" fun-ctional keys were used to display the volumetric view, then the maximal diameter of the VSDs in the end-diastolic phase were measured in the multiplanar restruction (MPR) window from the right ventricular view,and the area of the VSDs were measured frame by frame. (3) The surgical maximal diameter of the VSDs were measured by the surgeons in the 26 patients who were performed surgery. At last, the results acquired by the three methods were analyzed by the Pearson and Bland-Altman statistical methods.ResultsThe difference between 2DTTE and surgical results made sense (P< 0.05), but that between RT3DE and surgical results made no sense (P> 0.05). RT3DE made a better correlationship with the surgery view than 2DTTE (γ= 0.91 vsγ= 0.84) in evaluating the maximum diameter of VSDs. The area of VSDs appeared maximal in the early systolic phase and minimal in the end-systolic phase, and the changing rate is 0.44±0.16.ConclusionsRT3DE can make an accurate evaluation of the size and shape of VSD, providing more details for the therapy.