3D echocardiography in congenital heart disease: a valuable tool for the surgeon.

Real-time 3D echocardiography has been used increasingly in the assessment of patients with congenital heart disease. A number of studies have confirmed that this modality can be used as a complementary method to delineate morphology and spatial relationships of simple and more complex congenital heart lesions during surgical planning. Communication between the echocardiographer and surgeon can be simplified as simulation of surgical views can be achieved, thus minimizing the potential for error related to mental reconstruction. This review summarizes the available evidence for the role of real-time 3D echocardiography in congenital heart disease as an imaging modality to assist surgeons.