Three-dimensional echocardiography improves the understanding of left atrioventricular valve morphology and function in atrioventricular septal defects undergoing patch augmentation.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to address the role of 3-dimensional echocardiography in the evaluation of the left atrioventricular valve in children with an atrioventricular septal defect who underwent patch augmentation of their valve for either regurgitation or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.


METHODS
Five children whose ages ranged between 4.5 and 9.2 years and who underwent patch augmentation of their left atrioventricular valve had a preoperative and postoperative transesophageal echocardiogram with 3-dimensional reconstruction to evaluate the left atrioventricular valve. The indication for operation was left atrioventricular valve regurgitation in 3 patients and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 2 patients. Three were rerepairs, and 2 were primary repairs. Both 3-dimensional morphology and color Doppler data were obtained. Two- and 3-dimensional findings were correlated with surgical observations through the use of direct inspection and video images obtained with a head-mounted super-VHS camera.


RESULTS
In each case there was precise correlation between the 3-dimensional and surgical findings as to the cause of leaflet failure in those with regurgitation. The site that would require leaflet augmentation could be determined by means of 3-dimensional echocardiography. Three-dimensional echocardiography provided more specific detail as to the morphology and function of the left atrioventricular valve than did its 2-dimensional counterpart.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional echocardiography provides detailed information about the status of the left atrioventricular valve in the atrioventricular septal defect and can aid in the planning of either primary or secondary repair.
Barrea
Catherine
C
Division of Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology, The Hospital of Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Levasseur
Stéphanie
S
Roman
Kevin
K
Nii
Masaki
M
Coles
John G
JG
Williams
William G
WG
Smallhorn
Jeffrey F
JF
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D004694:Endocardial Cushion Defects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012086:Reoperation; D014694:Ventricular Outflow Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation