Quantitative analysis of coronary artery ostia anatomy using three-dimensional trans-esophageal echocardiography / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To quantitatively analyze the coronary artery ostia by three-dimensional trans-esophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE).Methods The full-volume images of aortic root and coronary artery ostia were acquired by 3D-TEE in 95 adult patients.The Philips QLab 3DQ measurement technology was employed to determine three mutually perpendicular planes(1) The transverse plane cross the bottom of three coronary artery sinus.(2) The sagittal plane perpendicular to sino-tubular junction.(3) The coronal plane perpendicular to the aforementioned two planes .The following relevant parameters were measured and recorded(1) Length, width, height and area of bilateral coronary artery ostia .(2) The angle between coronary arterial outflow tract and aortic root in sagittal plane .(3) The spatial distribution of coronary artery ostia, aortic root and coronary artert sinus .Results The shape of left coronary artery ostia were more regular (round or oval) than right coronary artery ostia ( teardrop-shape or oval ).Calcification was more frequent in right coronary artery ostia (81/95, 85.26%) than that in left coronary artery ostia. There were statistical differences between left and right coronary artery in the parameters of ostial wide , area and height (t =3.85, 3.86, -4.49, all P<0.01).Most left coronary artery ostia were located inside the sinus (76/95, 80.00%), mainly in the upper third segment (69/95, 72.63%); while more than half of the right coronary artery ostia were found outside the sinus ( 53/95, 55.79%).The difference was statistically significant( χ2 =25.91, P<0.01).Conclusion The quantitative analysis of aortic root and coronary artery ostia based on the full-volume images originated from real-time 3D-TEE is feasible, which is helpful for further clinical research .