[Transesophageal echocardiography--a method of evaluation of the aortic and mitral valves]

Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a new diagnostic method introduced for clinical practice about 1985. The method is particularly useful for the evaluation of the aorta and mitral valves. Twenty-seven patients with pathological changes of the valves of the left side of the heart were studied. In all patients the result of transthoracic echocardiography--TTE was non-diagnostic due to obesity, emphysema, deformity of the chest. In TEE diagnostic findings in the structures of the chest were obtained, their morphology and function were assessed, the clinical diagnosis was confirmed or verified. TEE was found to be useful in the evaluation of the valves, making possible establishing of correct diagnosis, especially in cases in which TTE was insufficient for providing of adequate information.