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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Evaluation of Left Heart Function in Heart Failure Patients with Different Ejection Fraction Types using a
Shen-Yi Li1, Yi Zhang1, Qing-Qing Long1
1Department of Ultrasonography, The People's Hospital of Hunan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410005, China.
Insights
The Heart-Model (HM) effectively assesses heart failure (HF) severity by analyzing left atrial and ventricular volumes and function. This 3D echocardiography tool provides faster measurements correlated with clinical indicators, aiding routine HF patient care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is categorized by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).
- Transthoracic 3D echocardiography Heart-Model (HM) offers rapid analysis of left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) function.
- Assessing HF severity and its impact on cardiac structures is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical utility of the 3D echocardiography Heart-Model (HM) in patients with heart failure (HF).
- To compare the efficiency and accuracy of HM in assessing cardiac parameters against conventional methods.
- To determine the correlation between HM-derived parameters and established HF biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- 117 HF patients were classified into HFpEF, HFmrEF, and HFrEF groups based on LVEF.
- The Heart-Model (HM) was employed for 3D analysis of LA and LV volumes and function.
- LVEF was measured using Simpson's biplane method; NT-proBNP levels were quantified.
Main Results:
- Decreasing LVEF correlated with increased LA and LV volumes across HF severity groups.
- The HM provided significantly faster LVEF measurements compared to Simpson's method.
- HM-derived parameters showed significant correlations with NT-proBNP levels, reflecting HF severity.
Conclusions:
- The Heart-Model (HM) accurately quantifies LA and LV volumes and LV systolic function in HF patients.
- HM measurements correlate with NT-proBNP, supporting its use in clinical practice.
- The HM demonstrates feasibility for routine clinical application in heart failure assessment.
Objective:
Heart failure (HF) is classified into three types based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). A newly developed transthoracic threedimensional (3D) echocardiography Heart-Model (HM) offers quick analysis of the volume and function of the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV). This study aimed to determine the value of the HM in HF patients.
Methods:
A total of 117 patients with HF were divided into three groups according to EF: preserved EF (HFpEF, EF ≥50%), mid-range EF (HFmrEF, EF =41%-49%), and reduced EF (HFrEF, EF ≤40%). The HM was applied to analyze 3D cardiac functional parameters. LVEF was obtained using Simpson's biplane method. The N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration was measured.
Results:
Significant differences in age, female proportion, body mass index, and comorbidities were observed among the three groups. With decreasing EF across the groups, the 3D volumetric parameters of the LA and LV increased, while LVEF decreased. The LV E/e' was significantly higher in HFrEF patients than in HFpEF patients. LVEF measurement was achieved in significantly less time with the HM compared with the conventional Simpson's biplane method. The NT-proBNP concentration increased in the following pattern: HFrEF > HFmrEF > HFpEF. The NT-proBNP concentration correlated positively with LV volume and negatively with LVEF from both the HM and Simpson's biplane method.
Conclusion:
LA and LV volumes increase, and the derived LV systolic function decreases with increasing HF severity determined by the HM. The functional parameters measurements provided by the HM are associated with laboratory indicators, indicating the feasibility of using the HM in routine clinical application.
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