Validation of a novel automated border-detection algorithm for rapid and accurate quantitation of left ventricular volumes based on three-dimensional echocardiography.

AIMS: To assess the accuracy and reproducibility of a novel automated software for left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) measurements using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 103 patients with a wide range of LV volumes were analyzed with both 4D AutoLVQ and 4D TomTec software. In 23 patients, a side-by-side comparison of LV volume and EF measurements was done between 3DE, 2DE, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Excellent correlation was found between 4D AutoLVQ and 4D TomTec [r = 0.98 for end-diastolic volume (EDV), 0.99 for end-systolic volume (ESV), and 0.97 for EF, P < 0.0001], with small biases and narrow limits of agreement: EDV 5.2 mL (-14 to 25 mL), ESV 2.9 mL (-10 to 16 mL), EF -0.2% (-7 to 6%). Time of analysis was halved using 4D AutoLVQ with manual correction (1 min 52 s+/- 30 s) in comparison with 4D TomTec software (3 min 46 s +/- 1 min 24 s). Both softwares showed similar accuracy in comparison with CMR (4D AutoLVQ biases -11.0 mL, -9.1 mL, and 2.9%; 4D TomTec biases -8.3 mL, -7.4 mL, and 2.8% for EDV, ESV, and EF, respectively, P = NS for all) and good reproducibility. CONCLUSION: Novel 4D AutoLVQ software showed very good agreement with more time-consuming 4D TomTec software, having similar accuracy against CMR.

Improved workflow, sonographer productivity, and cost-effectiveness of echocardiographic service for inpatients by using miniaturized systems.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of using certified sonographers and miniaturized echocardiography systems to perform echocardiograms at bedside in comparison to moving inpatients from the admission department to the echocardiography laboratory (echo-lab). METHODS AND RESULTS: From 26 September 2005 to 27 October 2005, 112 patients admitted in six hospital wards connected through a 100 Mbit LAN to the echo-lab were scanned within the admission ward by sonographers using a miniaturized echo system. Logistical data were collected and results were compared with those obtained from 194 consecutive patients coming from the same wards and studied in the echo-lab with high-end machines between 8 March 2005 and 15 April 2005. Performing echocardiograms in the admission department avoided long waiting time of the inpatients in the echo-lab before and after the study, increased the percentage of patients studied within 3 and 5 days from request (88 vs. 77% and 100 vs. 95%, respectively; P = 0.03), increased both sonographer (by 33.9%; P < 0.001) and echo-lab productivity (by 41%; P < 0.001), and reduced costs of echocardiograms by 29%. CONCLUSION: Implementation of digital echocardiography, certified sonographers, and a miniaturized echo system allowed improvement of the cost-effectiveness of the service provided by the echo-lab for inpatients, and avoided patients' discomfort derived from prolonged waiting time before and after the exam.

High volume-rate three-dimensional stress echocardiography to assess inducible myocardial ischemia: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Compared with previous three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic scanners, high-volume rate scanners allow higher temporal resolution and the possibility of displaying cropped images side by side. These new features make 3D echocardiography (3DE) even more attractive for application during stress. The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of high-volume rate 3DE with state-of-the-art two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) in detecting ischemia during dipyridamole-induced stress (DipSE). METHODS: One hundred seven consecutive patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease were examined using 2DE and 3DE during the same DipSE examination. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with inadequate images on 2DE requiring contrast infusion and 6 patients with inadequate detection of the endocardial borders on 3DE were excluded (feasibility of 3DE, 79%). The diagnostic accuracy of 3DE with DipSE was tested in the remaining 84 patients. Both acquisition time (65 +/- 30 s vs 16 +/- 3 seconds, respectively; P < .0001) and analysis time (176 +/- 63 vs 91 +/- 5 seconds, respectively; P < .0001) were significantly longer with 2DE than 3DE. Temporal resolution was significantly higher with 2DE than 3DE (75 +/- 5 frames/s vs 41 +/- 5 volumes/s, respectively; P < .0001). The wall motion score index (WMSI) at baseline was similar with 2DE and 3DE (1.041 +/- 0.023 vs 1.049 +/- 0.01, respectively; P = NS). In contrast, peak stress WMSI was significantly lower with 2DE than 3DE (1.21 +/- 0.025 vs 1.29 +/- 0.023, respectively; P = .011). In particular, mean apical peak stress WMSI was significantly lower with 2DE than 3DE (1.34 +/- 0.057 vs 1.55 +/- 0.078, respectively; P < .0001). In the 44 patients who underwent coronary angiography, the overall accuracy of 3DE was similar to that of 2DE (sensitivity, 80% vs 78%; specificity, 87% vs 91%). In the left anterior descending coronary artery territory, for which 3DE showed higher WMSI values, the sensitivity of 3DE was significantly higher than that of 2DE (87% vs 78%, P = .011), while specificity was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional echocardiography with DipSE is feasible and offers shorter acquisition and analysis times compared with 2DE, with similar overall diagnostic accuracy. However, the ability of 3DE to identify wall motion abnormalities in the apical region explains its higher sensitivity for the left anterior descending coronary artery territory.

Real-time three dimensional echocardiography in the postoperative follow-up of type-A aortic dissection--a case report.

Aortic dissection is a fearful complication with extremely high mortality in young patients with Marfan syndrome. Successful aortic emergency surgery increases the life expectancy of these patients, yet it does not prevent disease progression and late complications. Therefore, long-term imaging follow-up of both reconstructed and chronically dissected aortic segments is mandatory. This case report illustrates the potential role of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography as a supplement to conventional postoperative follow-up in aortic dissection that provides valuable spatial and functional information.

[Cardiac sonographers: a unique reality in Anglo-saxon countries? The experience of an Italian echo-lab which is employing them since 1984]. / I tecnici di ecocardiografia: una realtà dei soli paesi anglosassoni? L'esperienza di un laboratorio italiano in cui sono attivi dal 1984.

Cardiac sonographers play a key role in the management of echo-laboratories in anglo-saxon countries. In Italy, and generally in "latin" countries nearly all echocardiographic studies are performed by cardiologists. However, because of the increasing demand for echocardiography, this practice will no longer be feasible (medical schools do not graduate enough cardiologists!), and cost-effective (the cost of echocardiography performed by cardiologists only is becoming too high!). Introduction of cardiac sonographers in Italian echo-laboratories may represent a feasible and cost-effective solution to the ever increasing demand for echocardiography. In order to contribute to the debate, we report the experience of our echo-laboratory that employs cardiac sonographers since 1984.