How useful is 3D TEE?

[sevoflurane]

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Just wondering if anyone has much experience with 3D TEE. I had none coming into PP. I think they are nice pictures, but I don't see much utility compared to 2D.

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Valves look better... and it's nice to rotate the image... but does it help you significantly?

 

[veetz]

From my limited experience, the most valuable use of 3D is for viewing the mitral valve.

 

[Mman]

If you are slick at obtaining the images, it can provide valuable info on mitral repairs/replacements. Other than that, it doesn't add much (if anything).

 

[urge]

We are salivating for one of those 3d machines. You have but don't appreciate it. Life is not fair.

 

[sevoflurane]

Agree with above comments regarding mitral valve. Images of the subvalvular structures are also nice, especially with a chordal rupture. I don't find a need for it with routine CABG's.

I'll do a 3D image post valve replacement. But that is academic. It has never changed my management. I've always wanted to pick up a valve sewn in backwards. 🙄

That is about it. Don't use it for anything else as 2D gives me most of what I want to know. If I was to break it down, I would say I spend 90% of the time in 2D and 10% of the time in 3D. and... that's prolly stretching it. I'm sure others may find it more useful. I'm just new to it.