Abstract
Echocardiography is a method used routinely also in the diagnosis of intracardiac formations. Two-dimensional visualization of fast-moving pathological structures within cardiac chambers is fraught with a variety of specific problems and limitations.
Their visualization, not always ideal during standard ultrasound examination, still poses a challenge, as an erroneous conclusion and a misdiagnosis may have serious implications for the patient. In theory, three-dimensional real-time echocardiography could mitigate or even completely eliminate some of these shortcomings.
This would result not only in shortening procedural time but, also, in improving the examination in similar cases. Consistent with this, literary data suggest a more comprehensive visualization of these pathologies would be a step forward.
Potential utility of three-dimensional real-time echocardiography in the critically-ill, in acute states, in settings not allowing examination by esophageal probe or when use of another imaging method is contraindicated is yet to be defined. The paper describes the use of this method in our department for establishing diagnosis in specific patients with three different clinical entities, fairly rare in everyday practice in terms of the form and extent.
A SONOS 7500 system with an X4 matrix ultrasound probe were used in all cases (Philips, Andover, MA, USA).