Incremental value of live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of ventricular septal rupture following acute myocardial infarction

Echocardiography. 2017 Nov;34(11):1680-1686. doi: 10.1111/echo.13736. Epub 2017 Oct 30.

Abstract

Ventricular septal rupture is a serious complication following acute myocardial infarctions and is associated with a significant mortality rate. Classically, two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography has been used to diagnose this complication and visualize its location. Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography has supplemented the transthoracic approach by providing more accurate assessment of the defect size and in guiding closure both percutaneously and intraoperatively. This modality, however, is limited to two-dimensional views only, and a greater breadth of information is instead available through the use of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. We present a series of 11 patients in which live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography offered incremental benefits over two-dimensional imaging alone.

Keywords: myocardial infarction; three-dimensional echocardiography; three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography; two-dimensional echocardiography; two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography; ventricular septal rupture.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / complications*
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnostic imaging
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Ventricular Septal Rupture / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ventricular Septal Rupture / etiology
  • Ventricular Septum / diagnostic imaging
  • Ventricular Septum / injuries