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Real‐time three‐dimensional echocardiography using a matrix probe with live xPlane imaging of the interventricular septum
Author(s) -
Xiong Y.,
Wah Y. M. I.,
Chen M.,
Leung T. Y.,
Lau T. K.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.7337
Subject(s) - interventricular septum , medicine , great arteries , fetal echocardiography , fetus , cardiology , atrial septum , short axis , radiology , prenatal diagnosis , anatomy , long axis , heart disease , pregnancy , ventricle , biology , genetics , geometry , mathematics
Abstract Objective To describe a technique to rapidly visualize the in‐plane view of the fetal interventricular septum (IVS) to enable the identification of a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Methods One hundred and fifty‐one women were invited to participate after their routine fetal morphology scan, including four suspected to have congenital cardiac defects which were confirmed postnatally. A standard examination protocol using real‐time three‐dimensional (3D) echocardiography with live xPlane imaging was developed. The ability of this new technology to examine the ventricular septum was investigated. Results The in‐plane view of the fetal IVS was visualized successfully in 150 (99.3%) cases by real‐time 3D echocardiography with live xPlane imaging, including 82 (54.3%) cases with the spine posterior and 68 (45.7%) cases with the spine anterior. The in‐plane view of the IVS successfully visualized the VSDs in three fetuses with VSD and displayed the intact IVS in one fetus with transposition of the great arteries without VSD. Conclusion We describe live xPlane imaging, a simple method for the real‐time assessment of the in‐plane view of the IVS that has the potential to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of fetal cardiac examination. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.