Three-dimensional echocardiographic reconstruction: description and applications of a simplified technique for quantitative assessment of left ventricular size and function.

A simplified system for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the left ventricle and quantitation of its size and function is described. This system requires the acquisition of a minimum number of two-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic apical views, which are obtained by rotation of the probe about the initial imaging point. Traced endocardial borders are spatially reconstructed according to the common apex and longitudinal axis of the views and to the measured or assumed angular relation between scanned planes. This technique has been applied in vitro to regular and irregular ventricular phantoms, yielding excellent accuracy for volume calculation. Also, it has been applied clinically for left ventricular volume, stroke volume, and ejection fraction calculation in both normal subjects and patients with various cardiac diseases, providing good results compared with other independent imaging techniques and showing increased accuracy with respect to 2D echocardiographic methods. Because this is obtained without substantial increase in time, effort, or cost, this simplified technique for 3D reconstruction should therefore be of value in daily clinical echocardiographic practice.