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Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Obstructed bi-leaflet prosthetic mitral valve imaging with real-time three-dimensional transesophageal
Mai Shimbo1, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Shunsuke Kimura
1Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
Abstract:
Real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT3D-TEE) can provide unique visualization and better understanding of the relationship among cardiac structures. Here, we report the case of an 85-year-old woman with an obstructed mitral prosthetic valve diagnosed promptly by RT3D-TEE, which clearly showed a leaflet stuck in the closed position. The opening and closing angles of the valve leaflets measured by RT3D-TEE were compatible with those measured by fluoroscopy. Moreover, RT3D-TEE revealed, in the ring of the prosthetic valve, thrombi that were not visible on fluoroscopy. RT3D-TEE might be a valuable diagnostic technique for prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis.
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