Multi-factorial analytical study on real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic cardiac image display quality

Although real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) can display stereoscopic images, its acquisition and image display quality are affected by many factors. So, the study aimed to evaluate the importance of factors affecting the efficiency of RT-3DE image display quality, and establish an optimized method for RT-3DE examination and image processing in children. Based on the specific cardiac acoustic characteristics in children, 83 healthy children were studied and divided into five groups. Three aspects of seven factors were selected for RT-3DE examination and analysis of orthogonal test design method, including acquisition windows, gain, compress, post process, smoothing, frequency fusion and 3D Vision. The principal effective analysis of orthogonal test design method and its table L(18)3(7) were used. The efficiency rate of three-dimensional image display quality was used as the inspection index for orthogonal test design method. From our findings, according to the average deviation orders of seven factors, the maximal average deviation was the factor of gain. The aspects with maximal average deviation of each factor were at via-subcostal and via-apical acoustic windows, 90 of gain, 60 of compress, E of post process, five of smoothing, F3 of frequency fusion and A to B of 3D Vision, respectively. Namely, the optimized method for RT-3DE examination and image displaying could be achieved by setting the factors. Multi-factorial analytical study on RT-3DE cardiac image display quality could be helpful to promote clinical application of RT-3DE, and be conducive to design a multi-parameter presetting of ultrasound system to optimize RT-3DE examination.