Oesophageal echocardiography

Successful treatment of polymicrobial multivalve infective endocarditis

A 57-year-old man presented with triple valve infective endocarditis. There were vegetations on the tricuspid, mitral, and aortic valve. He had multiple complications such as pulmonary abscess, severe anaemia, and congestive heart failure. His general condition was extremely poor. Intensive medical therapy, such as blood transfusion, mechanical ventilation, and inotropic support, allowed him to tolerate surgery. Triple valve replacement was successfully performed without major complication. Vegetation cultures grew Streptococcus bovis and Enterecoccus faecalis. At 1 year follow-up, the patient is alive in NYHA functional class I.

Two decades of transesophageal phased array probes

After its introduction about two decades ago, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has rapidly evolved into an important diagnostic feature for the cardiologist, since it offers anatomic and hemodynamic information which cannot be obtained precordially. Part of this success was due to the developments in transducer technology which resulted in smaller probes with progressively better imaging qualities. A short review of past, recent and future developments of TEE phased array probes, in particular those at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, will be given. Furthermore, this article discusses basic parameters of the transducer dictating image quality such as centre frequency, array aperture and focusing illustrated with several simulations. The simulations show that a poor design of the transducer will limit the resolution and will give artefacts in the two-dimensional image.

An ambiguous case of chordal rupture. erroneous diagnosis of echocardiography. case report

A patient is described, in whom a sessile endocardial mass was diagnosed by echocardiography after a history of progressive dyspnoea. The tumor appeared to be attached to the mitral valve suspension apparatus and it was seen to be fluttering in the outflow tract of the left ventricle. During surgery, mucoid degenerated and ruptured chordae were resected. The actual size of the chordae was very small in relation to the tumor seen by echocardiography. The possible etiology and the echocardiographic pitfalls are discussed.

Potential applications for transesophageal echocardiography in hypertrophic cardiomyopathies

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the potential advantages of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in comparison with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in selected patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Ten patients with previously established or suspected diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were examined by TEE to solve specific clinical questions. TEE was well tolerated by all patients; no arrhythmias were seen during the procedure. The comparison of TTE and TEE showed the following: Advantages of TTE--better assessment of the left ventricle, myocardial thickness measurements available in all regions and sufficient for the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in nine out of 10 patients; advantages of TEE--precise assessment of mitral valve morphology and regurgitant jets, detailed evaluation of systolic anterior motion, and subaortic membrane (not seen by TTE) recognized in one patient. Clinically, in three patients TEE influenced the management (mitral leaflet perforation, subaortic membrane, and residual mitral regurgitation after valvuloplasty). Thus TEE enables more precise diagnosis in some patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and has the potential to influence their surgical management. However, for medical treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, TTE is sufficient.

Inadvertent embolic obstruction of abdominal aorta from left atrial thrombus after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty

Inadvertent embolic obstruction of the distal abdominal aorta and left renal artery during a percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty procedure in a patient with mitral stenosis is reported. The embolism was from a left atrial thrombus which was detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but not by transesophageal echocardiography.

Visualization of acute pulmonary emboli by transesophageal echocardiography

This report describes a patient who became hypoxic and hypotensive while awaiting cardiac surgery. An urgent transesophageal echocardiogram in the operating room showed a mass at the junction of the main and right pulmonary arteries consistent with thrombus. The thrombus was removed surgically, and the patient then had a successful aortic valve replacement. Transesophageal echocardiography is therefore useful in the evaluation of the critically ill patient.

Enhanced morphological diagnosis in infective endocarditis by transoesophageal echocardiography

Thirty three consecutive patients with clinically suspected endocarditis were studied by both precordial cross sectional echocardiography and transoesophageal echocardiography. The diagnostic value of both techniques was assessed. The data were compared with findings at operation in 25 patients. In 21 patients with native valve endocarditis precordial echocardiography showed evidence of vegetations in six patients and suggested their presence in nine. Transoesophageal echocardiography identified vegetations in 18 patients. Complications were seen in four patients at precordial echocardiography and in nine patients at transoesophageal echocardiography. Precordial echocardiography did not show vegetations in any of the 12 patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis whereas transoesophageal echocardiography showed vegetations in four. Complications were seen in four patients at precordial echocardiography and in 10 at transoesophageal echocardiography. Echocardiographic findings were confirmed at operation in all 25 operated patients. In two patients both echocardiographic techniques had missed the perforation of the cusps of the aortic valve that was seen at operation, but this had no effect on patient management. Transoesophageal echocardiography is the best diagnostic approach when infective endocarditis is suspected in patients with either native or prosthetic valves.

Transesophageal echocardiography

Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography generally has superior sensitivity and image quality compared with precordial echocardiography. Its unique anatomic perspective posterior to the heart often provides important clinical information not obtainable by other imaging approaches and technologies. It is particularly useful in the diagnosis of mitral valve disease, left atrial masses, endocarditis and its sequelae, and aortic dissections. It is also useful for examination of the left main coronary artery, left ventricular outflow tract, atrial and ventricular septa, and congenital defects. In addition to its application as a diagnostic tool in conscious patients, it can be employed intraoperatively to evaluate and guide surgical intervention. Detection of ventricular wall motion abnormalities by transesophageal echocardiography has been shown to be the most sensitive indicator of myocardial ischemia available in the clinical setting. It has potential for wide application for safely monitoring left ventricular function in patients in intensive care or under anesthesia.