Usefulness of Intra-Operative Epicardial Three-Dimensional Echocardiography to Guide Aortic Valve Repair in Children

The aim of this study was to determine the additional important information obtained on prebypass epicardial 3-dimensional imaging (E-3D) compared with transesophageal 2-dimensional echocardiography (TEE-2D) in young patients who undergoing aortic valve repair. From January 2004 to May 2007, all patients who underwent reconstructive surgery of the native aortic valve and intraoperative TEE-2D and E-3D were retrospectively reviewed. Thirteen structural anatomic variables of the aortic valve for TEE-2D and E-3D were evaluated, scored, and compared (by a blinded observer) with intraoperative surgical findings. Nineteen patients underwent valve repair. The median age at surgery was 10 years (range 1 day to 24 years). The primary aortic valve disease was regurgitation (n = 19), and 2 patients had additional valvar stenosis. TEE-2D and E-3D were able to detect 82% (n = 204) and 91% (n = 225), respectively, of the intraoperative findings (n = 247) (p = 0.006). Individual evaluation scores were higher for E-3D (median 12, interquartile range 11 to 13) than for TEE-2D (median 11, interquartile range 10 to 12) (p = 0.01) compared with surgical findings (score 13). Differences in detection sensitivity occurred for commissural fusion (n = 7), leaflet perforation or deficiency (n = 5), and leaflet prolapse (n = 2). TEE-2D was more likely to have false-negative findings than E-3D (36 vs 16 findings, p = 0.001). In conclusion, intraoperative E-3D provides additional important information over TEE-2D for aortic valve repair in young patients. Such 3-dimensional echocardiographic imaging has become an important intraoperative modality for valve repair at the investigators' institution.