[Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular volumes using the average rotation method: comparison with the disk summation method].
OBJECTIVE
Three-dimensional(3-D) echocardiography accurately calculates left ventricular volumes without geometric assumptions. Conventional 3-D echocardiography using the disk summation method is limited in practical use because of the long analysis time. This study validated the average rotation method for rapid and accurate left ventricular volume measurement compared with the conventional disk summation method.


METHODS
3-D data acquisition using multiplane transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 13 patients. Left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were calculated by the disk summation method with 20 parallel short-axis tomograms and by the average rotation method with 3, 6, 9 and 12 apical long-axis tomograms.


RESULTS
3-D left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by the average rotation method in each subgroup of slice resolution had excellent correlation and close limits of agreement with those by the disk summation method. Intraobserver variability and interobserver variability were < or = 11%. With the use of three component tomograms, analysis time required for left ventricular volume measurement by the average rotation method was < or = 2 min.


CONCLUSIONS
Transesophageal 3-D echocardiography using the average rotation method is a clinically useful tool for accurate and rapid measurement of left ventricular volume and function.
Kawai
J
J
Division of Cardiology, Kobe General Hospital, Minatojima, Naka-machi 4-6, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0046.
Yoshida
K
K
Hozumi
T
T
Ookawa
M
M
Akasaka
T
T
Tanabe
K
K
Takagi
T
T
Yamamuro
A
A
Yagi
T
T
Morioka
S
S
Yoshikawa
J
J
D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*