Recently, in line with improvement in the quality of echocardiographic imaging, real-time 3D transoesophageal echocardiography (RT-3D TEE) is available to facilitate electrophysiological procedures such as transseptal puncture without fluoroscopy. It is possible to obtain cross-sectional visualization of the left atrium, left atrial appendix, pulmonary veins such as left superior pulmonary vein and its anatomical variations, mitral valve annulus, and prosthetic valves less invasively with RT-3D TEE. Implementation of RT-3D TEE in percutaneous electrophysiological interventions especially atrial fibrillation, left atrial appendage closure and transseptal puncture results in reduction of fluoroscopic time and radiation dose, may reduce complication ratio, and may improve in-hospital and long term outcomes.
Credits: Mustafa Yildiz; Cuneyt Toprak