Original Articles
Superiority of 3-dimensional versus 2-dimensional echocardiography for left ventricular volume assessment in small piglet hearts*,**

https://doi.org/10.1067/mje.2000.106792Get rights and content

Abstract

To evaluate the accuracy of 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography in the estimation of left ventricular (LV) volume in vivo, we studied 15 newborn piglets ranging in weight from 2.6 to 11.8 kg. Measurements of beating LV volumes by 3D echocardiograms were compared with measurements by conductance catheter and transthoracic 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiograms with the use of Simpson's rule. The results of both 3D and 2D echocardiograms correlated strongly with the actual volume (r = 0.98 and 0.95 for LV end-diastolic volume, and 0.998 and 0.95 for LV end-systolic volume, respectively). However, the standard error of estimate (SEE) for 2D echocardiography was larger than for 3D. The SEE values for LV end-diastolic volume for 2D and 3D echocardiograms were 2.30 mL and 1.85 mL, respectively, and 1.52 mL and 0.5 mL for LV end-systolic volume. We conclude that 3D echocardiography not only accurately measures LV volume and systolic function in a newborn heart, it is more precise than measurements from 2D echocardiography in the assessment of small beating hearts. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2000;13:918-23.)

Section snippets

Left ventricle catheterization

Fifteen newborn piglets with a mean weight of 5.5 kg (range 2.6 to 11.8 kg) were anesthetized with intravenous sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg), with a maintenance infusion of 0.2 mg/kg per minute. The piglets were intubated and mechanically ventilated in 40% oxygen. Standard electrocardiographic electrodes were placed on the chest. Arterial blood gases and routine hematologic and blood chemistry factors were adjusted as appropriate. A 5F conductance catheter was introduced into the right

Results

As expected, the results of both 2D and 3D echocardiograms strongly correlated with the true volumes (r = 0.95 and 0.98, respectively, for LV end-diastolic volume, and 0.95 and 0.998, respectively, for LV end-systolic volume) and did not differ significantly from one another (Table 1, Figures 1 and 2).

. Difference in echocardiographic conductance volume measurements plotted against the mean value. The results are shown for end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV). Dotted line

Discussion

The assessment by 3D echocardiography provided better agreement with the true volume than was obtained by the modified Simpson's rule. These results are similar to studies assessing adult-sized hearts.5, 6 As echocardiography has evolved, the development of 3D imaging as a clinical tool has progressed rapidly.7, 8, 9, 10 Although 2D echocardiography has greatly enhanced the ability to visualize the functioning heart, interpretive skills are necessary to assemble the 2D slices into a mental

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the animal laboratory at The Hospital for Sick Children for contributing the piglets for this study. We would also like to thank Estrada Marvin for his technical assistance. This article was prepared with the assistance of Editorial Services,The Hospital for Sick Children.

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    *

    Reprint requests: Christine Boutin, MD, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, Service de Cardiologie, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Canada, H3T 1C5 (E-mail: [email protected]).

    **

    J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2000;13:918-23.

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