Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic En Face Views of Ventricular Septal Defects: Feasibility, Accuracy, Imaging...

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly. Accurate assessment is critical for planning treatment. Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography have improved image quality and ease of use.

The feasibility and accuracy of three specific 3D echocardiographic protocols to demonstrate en face views of VSDs were analyzed in a retrospective review of 100 consecutive patients. Sixty-four patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and 36 transesophageal echocardiography. Types of VSDs included 34 muscular, 32 perimembranous, 18 malaligned, 11 inlet, four outlet, and one acquired. Ages ranged from 1 day to 77 years, and body weights from 3 to 92 kg. Three-dimensional echocardiographic full-volume mode with standard XYZ and adjustable plane cropping, 3D full-volume mode with iCrop, and narrow-sector live 3D protocols were compared for feasibility and accuracy to obtain a diagnostic-quality en face view of a VSD.

The success rate for obtaining a high-quality en face image for the three protocols was 100% for full-volume mode with iCrop, 97% for full-volume standard mode, and 94% for narrow-sector live 3D mode. The ability of both full-volume mode with iCrop and full-volume standard mode to demonstrate a VSD was slightly better than that of narrow-sector live 3D mode (P < .001 for both vs narrow-sector live 3D mode). In all patients, the type, size, and location of the VSD were demonstrated accurately by two or more of the protocols.

Three-dimensional echocardiography of VSDs is feasible and accurate in most patients using defined protocols. The protocols are described and illustrated in detail, and a reference 3D image collection is presented.