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Transesophageal echocardiography: procedures and clinical application
E A Fisher1, J A Stahl, J H Budd
1Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Transesophageal echocardiography offers improved cardiac imaging over transthoracic echocardiography due to technological advancements. This technique provides better visualization of heart structures, aiding in surgical monitoring and diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been available for over a decade.
- Recent technological advancements have renewed interest in TEE.
- These advances include high-resolution transducers, multi-planar imaging, and Doppler color flow mapping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the technical aspects, indications, and limitations of transesophageal echocardiography.
- To highlight the benefits of TEE compared to transthoracic echocardiography.
Main Methods:
- The heart is imaged from the esophagus using a gastroscope-mounted transducer.
- This approach overcomes technical challenges associated with transthoracic echocardiography.
Main Results:
- TEE provides superior resolution for imaging cardiac structures compared to routine transthoracic echocardiography.
- It facilitates visualization of the left atrium and appendage, mitral and aortic valves (native and prosthetic), and thoracic aorta.
Conclusions:
- Transesophageal echocardiography is valuable for intraoperative monitoring during cardiac and non-cardiac surgeries.
- It is also beneficial for imaging ambulatory patients, offering enhanced visualization of various cardiac structures.