Echocardiography in Structural Cardiac Interventions

Echocardiography plays an important role in the assessment of structural heart disease. The work-up for the assessment for structural interventions often requires a combination of both transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal (TEE) imaging. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography provides added value to traditional two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography, allowing for definition of anatomical and spatial relationships. Echocardiography is portable and easily accessible, whilst avoiding the need for radiation and contrast making it the preferred mode of imaging in the cardiac catheterisation lab.