Echocardiography in Percutaneous Valve Therapy

Echocardiography has played a critical role in valve reconstructive surgery and more recently in developments in percutaneous techniques for mitral valve repair and aortic valve implantation. A combination of transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provide diagnostic and screening data pre-procedure, intraprocedural guidance, and assessment of valve function and left ventricular reverse remodeling post-percutaneous valve procedures. The role of intracardiac echocardiography and live 3-dimensional TEE in percutaneous valve interventions is evolving. This review summarizes the role of echocardiography during percutaneous device-based valve procedures. (J Am Coll Cardiol Img 2009; 2: 1226-37) (C) 2009 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation