Valvular heart disease and 3-dimensional echocardiography: ready for prime-time?

Significant advances in 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) technology have ushered its use into clinical practice. The recent advent of real-time 3DE using matrix array transthoracic and transesophageal transducers has resulted in improved image spatial resolution, and therefore, enhanced visualization of the patho-morphological features of the cardiac valves. Three-dimensional echocardiography provides unique perspectives of valvular structures by presenting "en face" views of valvular structures, allowing for a better understanding of the topographical aspects of pathology, and a refined definition of the spatial relationships of intracardiac structures. Three-dimensional echocardiography makes available indices not described by 2D echocardiography and has been demonstrated to be superior to 2D echocardiography in a variety of valvular disease scenarios. In this review, we discuss the incremental role of 3DE in evaluating valvular anatomic features, volumetric quantification, pre-surgical planning, intra-procedural guidance, and post-procedural assessment of valvular heart disease.