2 - Three-dimensional anatomy of the aortic and mitral valves

Abstract

Advancements in three-dimensional echocardiography have led to its routine use in clinical practice. This is because it can provide realistic images of the mitral and aortic valves and their spatial relationships with adjacent structures. This has resulted in improved evaluation and communication among the Heart Team. Coupled with developments in computer technology, models of the mitral and aortic valves can now be obtained from three-dimensional echocardiographic datasets with minimal effort. This allows 3D quantification of the mitral and aortic valve structures resulting in more accurate and reproducible measurements compared to two-dimensional methods. These measurements have provided mechanistic insights into the pathophysiology of mitral valve prolapse, ischemic mitral regurgitation and calcific aortic stenosis. Additionally, the use of three-dimensional echocardiography has improved the quantification of stenosis and regurgitant lesion. Lastly, three-dimensional echocardiography is routinely used to guide surgical and percutaneous replacement and repair techniques.