Clinical Implications of Transitioning from 2D to Fully Automated 3D Echocardiography

Dear Colleagues

It is well known that the demand for routine reporting of echocardiographic three-dimensional (3D) chamber quantifications and function is growing because of expanding indications. Competing against this need are other pressures that affect echocardiography laboratory time and resources. Presently, the continued developments in artificial, anatomically intelligent 3D with minimal user interaction allow larger data sets to be obtained that include multi-chamber or whole-heart imaging. Automation’s potential benefits include time and cost savings associated with streamlining image acquisition, rapid analysis and reporting, and greater accuracy and reproducibility of measurements. As a result, automation of 3D measurements can significantly alter the workflow in echocardiography laboratories. However, some issues still need to be overcome considering that the reference values for cardiac chamber volumes measured with 3D and two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) are significantly different and cannot be used interchangeably. Additionally, different companies have developed their own algorithms to post-process data sets and measure cardiac structures’ geometry and function.

Therefore, we are publishing this Special Issue in the Journal of Clinical Medicine to facilitate fully automated 3D measurement adoption in the modern-day echo laboratory, primarily focusing on quantitation of the left or right ventricular and atrial chamber volumes and on geometry function. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

• Assessment of consistency of chamber measurements by 2DE and 3DE;
• Establishment of 3DE reference values and outcome data;
• Cost-effective studies justifying 3DE’s co-existence with conventional 2DE;
• 3DE border sensitivity settings;
• Standardized protocols when incorporating 3DE.

Of particular interest are papers which attempt to integrate 3DE above traditional 2DE methods and their clinical implications. We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Mauro Pepi
Dr. Andrea Barbieri
Guest Editors

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• artificial intelligence
• automation
• machine learning
• three-dimensional echocardiography
• cardiac chamber quantification