Use of a photo-realism 3D rendering technique to enhance echocardiographic visualization of the anatomical details during beating-heart mitral valve repair

The NeoChord procedure is an innovative microinvasive, transventricular, beating-heart chordal replacement technique for patients with severe degenerative mitral valve regurgitation resulting from prolapsed or flail leaflets. Use of three-dimensional (3D) transoesophageal echocardiographic imaging is crucial to the physician operator for device navigation during the procedure and to assess the functional results of the repair at the end of the procedure. Photo-realistic, 3D rendering techniques have been recently developed for medical use. Philips TrueVue (Philips Healthcare, Eindhoven, NL) is a photo-realism technique that employs the use of a virtual light source that simulates the interaction of light on 3-dimensional surfaces. Use of photo-realism techniques, in conjunction with 3D echocardiography, improves the visualization of morphological characteristics of the mitral valve before, during, and after beating-heart mitral valve repair procedures.