title: Transthoracic real time three-dimensional echocardiography in Impella placement.
abstract: A 33-year-old patient with nonischemic cardiomyopathy presented with cardiogenic shock requiring percutaneous left ventricular assist device placement despite inotropic support. Under transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiographic guidance, an Impella 2.5 L heart pump was placed. The inflow catheter was distal to the aortic valve, however patient remained in shock. Real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography showed the inflow catheter imbedded into the papillary muscle causing inlet occlusion. By cropping 3D data set in multiple planes, a better spatial visualization of the inflow catheter and its distance from the aortic valve was easily obtained and the device was adjusted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine--Cardiology Division, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0553, USA.
authors.forename: Ghassan H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Abusaid
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D003199:Computer Systems; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome