Live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Since the advent of matrix array transducer, three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography has come to frequent clinical use. It has significantly enhanced the communication between the operators and cardiac imagers in the operating room as well as in the cardiac interventional labs. This article reviews the history, technological aspects, and the protocol for acquisition and processing of the data sets. It also discusses its advantages in various clinical scenarios, both in diagnostic and therapeutic situations. It highlights its limitations in the current form and prospects of future development. 2012, Wiley Periodicals, Inc