Usefulness of live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the identification of individual segment/scallop prolapse of the mitral valve.

In this report, we present 34 patients in whom surgical intervention was undertaken for severe mitral insufficiency due to mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Location and severity of MVP and regurgitation were assessed preoperatively by live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and closely agreed with the surgical findings.