Accuracy of new transthoracic 3D echocardiographic automated software for left heart chamber quantification in children

Introduction A new three-dimensional echocardiographic (3DE) automated software (HeartModel) is now available to quantify left heart chamber. The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility of this technique in children; and its correlation with manual 3DE and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for measuring left ventricular (LV) and left atrium (LA) volumes and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods Ninety-two children (5 to 17 years) were prospectively included in two separate protocols. In protocol, 1, 73 healthy children (8.8 ± 3.0 years) underwent 2D and 3D transthoracic echocardiography (EPIQ 7 C, X5-1, Philips Healthcare). LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), LVEF and LA volume at ventricular end-systole (LAV) obtained with automated 3DE ( Fig. 1 ) were compared with the manual 3DE measurements. In protocol 2, automated 3DE measurements from 19 children with cardiopathy (12.8 ± 2.9 years) were compared with CMR values. Test-retest, intraobserver and interobserver variability and the mean analysis time per patient were also examined for 3DE measurements. Results Automated 3DE was feasible in 77% of datasets and reduced significantly the mean time per patient required for indices analysis compared with manual 3DE (20 ± 2 versus 125 ± 24 seconds, P r  = 0.89 to 0.99, all P r  = 0.56 to 0.57, all P Conclusions HeartModel is a promising software for fast assessment of left heart chamber volume and function. Its feasibility in children aged more than 5 years is good, with high reproducibility. The automated 3DE measurements of LV and LA volumes are comparable to manual 3DE, especially when contour adjustment of automated 3DE values is performed. Compared with CMR, LVEDV and LVEF measured by automated 3DE with contour edit seem interesting in clinical practice.