Feasibility, Accuracy, and Reproducibility of Aortic Valve Sizing for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Using...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging and Intervention
• Medical Technology and Visualization

Background:

• Accurate aortic valve and annulus measurements are crucial for successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and complication prevention.
• Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is the current standard for preprocedural assessment, but lacks immersive 3D visualization capabilities.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers advanced 3D visualization and measurement potential for complex cardiovascular anatomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility, accuracy, and reproducibility of virtual reality (VR) for aortic valve visualization and preprocedural sizing in TAVI.
• To evaluate VR's role in improving understanding of aortic valve anatomy and surrounding structures for TAVI planning.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of MSCT data from 60 TAVI patients.
• 3D measurements and visualizations were performed using both standard 3mensio software and VR software.
• Intra- and interobserver reliability were assessed for all measurements.

Main Results:

• Strong correlations and no significant differences were found between VR measurements and standard 3mensio software measurements.
• Excellent or good intra- and interobserver reliability was demonstrated for all VR-derived measurements.
• User feedback indicated VR simplified anatomical understanding, improved 3D comprehension, and offered good depth perception.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality (VR) is a feasible tool for preprocedural TAVI sizing, providing precise and reproducible measurements.
• VR-enhanced 3D visualization improves anatomical understanding and spatial orientation for cardiovascular interventions.
• Further research is needed to explore the full benefits of VR in planning complex cardiovascular procedures.