3D echocardiography to plan aortic valve surgery and evaluate the results

Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) has become an indispensable tool for the anatomical and functional assessment of the aortic valve (AV). Accurately identifying the degree of regurgitation or stenosis is critical for therapeutic decision making; 3D TEE provides comprehensive morphological and functional descriptions, which have been improved by the introduction of new analytic methods. This review examines the development of 3D echocardiography in evaluating AV disorders, emphasizing its advantages over conventional 2D imaging. 3D TEE improves the accuracy of measures crucial to surgical planning and prosthesis selection, enabling real-time visualization of valve shape and dynamics. The widespread adoption of 3D echocardiography will contribute to improving the treatment of AV diseases as technology advances, thereby opening new horizons for more patient-tailored therapeutic strategies.