Safety and feasibility of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with prior esophageal surgery

Experience with transesophageal echocardiography for mitral valve plasty in the remote stage after esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction via the retrosternal route

A 69-year-old male patient with mitral valve prolapse was scheduled for mitral valve plasty. Sixteen years earlier, he had undergone right open thoracotomy for esophageal cancer with subtotal esophagectomy, cervicothoraco-abdominal three-region dissection, posterior mediastinal tube reconstruction, and cervical anastomosis. Postoperatively, the patient had a treatment- and recurrence-free course, and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed 2 years prior revealed no abnormality. We scheduled a transesophageal echocardiography for mitral valve surgery. We attempted to insert the probe but felt resistance at the height of the mid-thoracic region, and the image quality was poor, so we abandoned the intraoperative diagnosis. The surgery was performed as planned, and when the probe was manipulated again at the time of cardiopulmonary withdrawal, the mitral valve could be observed. The mitral valve was judged to be sufficiently repaired, and the surgery was terminated. There were no complications associated with transesophageal echocardiography.

Level of agreement between three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography for mitral annulus evaluation: A feasibility and comparison study

INTRODUCTION

Mitral annulus assessment is of utmost importance for the management of patients with mitral valve (MV) abnormalities, as it helps to determine the decision for surgical or transcatheter treatment. Three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) has been the only reliable echocardiographic method for the evaluation of the mitral annulus by now. However, newer transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) 3D probes have enabled to provide accurate measurements as well and become a valuable tool when TOE is contraindicated. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of 3D TTE analysis of mitral annulus and the level of agreement with 3D TOE measurements.

METHODS

A total of 121 consecutive patients were assessed with 3D TTE and TOE. All mitral annulus parameters were retrospectively analyzed with the dedicated 4D autoMVQ application. Bland-Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient were used for the comparison and agreement between the two methods. Half of our patients had normal mitral valves and served as control group, while the other half had various mitral valve pathologies.

RESULTS

AutoMVQ analysis was not feasible in 11 out of 121 TTE examinations (91% feasibility) and in 4 out of 121 TOE examinations (96% feasibility). Mitral annular area and perimeter were slightly larger in TTE than those measured by TOE (12.7 ± 3.6 vs. 12.4 ± 3.2 cm² for area and 12.7 ± 1.7 vs. 12.5 ± 1.6 cm for perimeter), however still showing strong correlation (r = .942 and r = .922, respectively). The majority of mitral valve measurements (anterior-posterior, medial-lateral and commissural diameter, aorto-mitral angle and anterior leaflet length) were similar among the two methods with strong correlation (r > .80). Inter-trigonal distance, posterior leaflet length and tenting height showed weaker agreement between TTE and TOE (r = .687, r = .687, r = .634, respectively). Mitral annular dimensions (by 3D area) were found to be significantly larger in patients with MV pathology (13.5 ± 3.5 vs. 11 ± 2.3 cm² ), atrial fibrillation (14.4 ± 3 vs. 11.4 ± 2.8 cm² ), left ventricular (13.8 ± 3.1 vs. 11.7 ± 3.1cm² ) and left atrial dilatation (13 ± 3.3 vs. 10.6 ± 2.3cm² ) compared to the individuals in the control group (p < .001 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of the MV with 3D TTE with dedicated MVQ software is feasible and accurate, showing strong correlation and agreement with TOE measurements.

Transesophageal Echocardiography in Patients With Magnetic Gastroesophageal Reflux Devices: A Report of 2 Cases

Magnetic gastroesophageal reflux devices are becoming a common treatment option for reflux refractory to medical therapy. These devices are inserted laparoscopically with successful outcomes; however, patients may still complain of dysphagia after implantation. Echocardiographers may be hesitant to perform transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in these patients as esophageal surgery and dysphagia represent relative contraindications to performing TEE. However, we present 2 cases where intraoperative TEE was performed in patients with reflux devices without complication or image degradation. The described cases, in addition to a review of the perioperative management of these devices, support the use of TEE in this patient population.