Coronary sinus visualization by 3-dimensional real-time echocardiography.
BACKGROUND
Real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) to visualize the coronary sinus (CS) was compared with multislice cardiac tomography (MSCT).


METHODS
In all, 37 consecutive patients undergoing MSCT received RT3DE a few hours later. Group A (n = 22) had normal left ventricular dimension/function, whereas group B (n = 15) had heart failure.


RESULTS
The CS could be visualized in both groups (91% and 93%) with a significantly larger diameter in B. Systolic CS diameter was always larger than diastolic, but patients with heart failure showed significantly less difference (7.6% +/- 4.2% vs 12.2% +/- 6.1%, P < .05). When systolic and diastolic measurements were possible, MSCT and RT3DE agreed (Lin R = -0.09 [95% confidence interval 0.73-0.93]) but less so from the proximal to mid/distal segments (Lin R 0.90, 0.61, 0.41, respectively). Observers learned the procedure in approximately 5 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
The CS can be visualized and quantitatively assessed by RT3DE in an easily learned procedure that agrees with MSCT results, especially in patients with heart failure.
Conca
Cristina
C
Division of Cardiology, Fondazione Cardiocentro Ticino, Lugano, Switzerland.
Faletra
Francesco
F
Chioncel
Ovidiu
O
Sorgente
Antonio
A
Pasotti
Elena
E
Pedrazzini
Giovanni
G
Moccetti
Tiziano
T
Auricchio
Angelo
A
D000368:Aged; D003199:Computer Systems; D054326:Coronary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*