M Elsayed

Three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic identification of individual cusps of the pulmonary valve: Potential misidentification by the two-dimensional technique

We demonstrate the incremental value of live/real time three‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) over the two‐dimensional modality in the identification of all three cusps of the pulmonary valve in patients in whom only two leaflets could be detected by the latter technique. This was because of the ability of 3DTTE to view the cusps enface permitting assessment of relationship to one another and the surrounding cardiac structures. In addition, 3DTTE showed not only the potential errors that can occur in pulmonary valve cusp identification when the two‐dimensional modality is used alone but also how some of these errors can be avoided by paying attention to the surrounding structures.

Incremental value of live/real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of ventricular septal rupture following acute myocardial infarction

Ventricular septal rupture is a serious complication following acute myocardial infarctions and is associated with a significant mortality rate. Classically, two‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography has been used to diagnose this complication and visualize its location. Two‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography has supplemented the transthoracic approach by providing more accurate assessment of the defect size and in guiding closure both percutaneously and intraoperatively. This modality, however, is limited to two‐dimensional views only, and a greater breadth of information is instead available through the use of three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. We present a series of 11 patients in which live/real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography offered incremental benefits over two‐dimensional imaging alone.