Procedures : three dimensional (3D echocardiography) is done in the following manner:
- The gated combination of several 2D planes derived,
- The combined 2D echo plates are integrated and conjoined into a 3D structure by the computer device,
- Then the combined figure is surface rendered to provide a realistic image with height and depth measurements.
Instructions to the patients : the patient needs to strictly follow the below-mentioned rules:
- It is a non-invasive test hence no sense of uncomforting or pain,
- To avoid nicotine products a couple of hours before the test as it can cause false- positive test results,
- Avoid tobacco chewing and smoking cigarettes before the test.
End results of the test : this type of test is usually done to detect the following :
- Measures the stroke volume and cardiac output thus finding out congenital heart disease,
- Helps in the serial assessment of heart disease,
- Directly measures the volume of laminar outflow.
Importance of this test : the test results are important to the cardiologists and surgeon in the following way:
- It works as guidance in cath labs. In the line of studying the heart and experiment in inserting new valves, 3D echo tests are really helpful,
- The unmatched view of the mitral view to present to the surgeon before any operation takes place directing them to the area of valve disease and narrow down the lines of operation,
- Thus, these two techniques combined helps in using the different modalities and integrate the same into a simpler study and with the different dimensions of heart; the cardiologists and surgeons can come to term in knowing the condition of the patient.
