Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography for multiclinical dilemmas

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Diagnostic Echocardiography

Background:

• Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has evolved from limited use to a crucial clinical tool over four decades.
• TEE is now indicated for a wide range of cardiac conditions, comparable to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).
• As a semi-invasive procedure, TEE offers a favorable safety profile with few complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical utility of transesophageal echocardiography in diverse cardiac pathologies.
• To advocate for the broader adoption of TEE as a reliable diagnostic method.
• To share institutional experience with TEE over a five-year period.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 425 transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) procedures performed between 2006 and 2010.
• Patient data collected included medical history, clinical evaluation, and procedural details from two centers.
• Procedures utilized PHILIPS iE33 and Siemens Acuson CV 70 machines with multi-frequency transducers (2.5-3.5 MHz for TTE, 7.0 MHz for TEE).

Main Results:

• TEE was applied to diverse conditions including severe hypertension (96 cases), atrial fibrillation (118 cases), aortic dissection (49 cases), and aortic stenosis (28 cases).
• Other indications included source of emboli evaluation (36 cases), thoracic aortic aneurysm suspicion (14 cases), endocarditis (11 cases), and mitral valve intervention assessment (28 cases).
• No minor or major complications were reported during the study period.

Conclusions:

• Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) effectively clarifies complex cardiac conditions promptly.
• The study reinforces TEE's role as an indispensable, safe, and highly useful tool in daily clinical practice.
• Correctly performed TEE procedures are associated with a very low complication rate.