Valve anatomy and function with transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiography: advantages and limitations of instantaneous full-volume color Doppler imaging

Abstract

Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is becoming part of everyday clinical practice worldwide. However, 3DE requires adequate electrocardiographic and respiratory gating and it complements instead of replacing bidimensional echocardiography (2D). The instantaneous full-volume echocardiography technique is trying to overcome some of these limitations and to present an effective alternative to 2D echocardiography. In this article we aim to review the contribution of 3DE to our knowledge of anatomic and functional valvular anatomy and the potential advantages of instantaneous full-volume color Doppler echocardiography.

Keywords

three-dimensional echocardiography transthoracic color Doppler mitral valve aortic valve tricuspid valve real time 3D regurgitation PISA vena contracta

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