title: Rapid quantification of left ventricular function and mass using transoesophageal three-dimensional echocardiography: validation of a method that uses long-axis cutplanes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite its proven superiority compared to conventional echocardiographic techniques, three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography has not gained widespread acceptance in clinical medicine for the quantification of left ventricular volumes, function and mass. This is mainly due to the large, time-consuming process of data analysis. We sought to validate a new method that enables the accurate quantification of the left ventricle in a clinically acceptable short period of time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction and mass were determined in 44 patients using 3D echocardiography. The 3D echocardiographic data sets were analysed: (i) using the conventional 'summation of slices' algorithm (slice thickness 5 and 10mm), which is based on the analysis of the 3D reconstructed left ventricle in short-axis cross-sections; and (ii) using the new method which is based on the analysis of the 3D reconstructed left ventricle in long-axis images. In each patient measurements were repeated using 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 15 long-axis images. For all volumetric measurements there was a continuous reduction of measurement variability using increasing numbers of long-axis images. The use of more than nine long-axis images for volumes, and eight long-axis images for ejection fraction and mass, did not result in a further reduction of variability. The analysis time for volumes and masses averaged less than 5 min for the long-axis method using nine component images, compared to 20-43 min for the short-axis method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D echocardiography combined with a novel method based on the analysis of long-axis cross-section allows accurate quantification of left ventricular volumes, function and mass in a clinically acceptable short period of time. In the future, the combination of a real-time 3D echocardiographic acquisition technique with this analysis method should have important implications for the introduction of 3D echocardiography in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic I, University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kühl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merx
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Puschmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hanrath
mesh_terms: D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D013997:Time Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*