[Transesophageal echocardiography at a small Norwegian district hospital]

Transoesophageal echocardiography in a routine setting in a small Norwegian district hospital (catchment area population 30,000) during a 12-month period is presented. The method is relatively new and is seldom used at district hospitals. We therefore find it of interest to report our experience with the method. During 1998 a total of 868 echocardiographies were performed, 167 of which were transoesophageal. Our hospital had at that time three people performing the investigation, two of which were cardiologists. The mean age of patients was 69.9 years; men 68.4, women 71.8 years. 60% of the investigations were on inpatients; 40% of the transoesophageal investigations were performed as emergencies or subacutely. The transoesophageal echoes were performed following the usual application criteria: 56 were done to evaluate possible cardial source of embolism, 32 valve disease, 24 to verify or follow endocarditis, 14 patients were seen prior to electroconversion. In six of these, large thrombi in the left-side cardiac chambers were found and electroconversion was not performed. All these patients had been on well controlled anticoagulant treatment for three or more weeks prior to the investigation. Seven patients were studied due to probable aortic pathology. Patients with emphysema, chronic lung disease, radiation sequelae or others with no parasternal or subxiphoid access had transoesophageal echo performed. Intravenous diazepam was only used in four of 167 investigations. This was of great importance for including the method in our outpatient clinic routine. The frequent observation of intracardiac thrombi has let us to incorporate transoesophageal echocardiography into a routine setting for all patients prior to electroconversion and for those with stroke in order to optimise treatment.