Aortic dissection with aorto-left atrial fistula formation soon after aortic valve replacement: A lethal complication diagnosed by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.

Fistulas between the aorta and left atrium are a rare manifestation of aortic dissection and are infrequently diagnosed premortem. We report the case of a 70-year-old man who exhibited this condition soon after aortic valve replacement and eventually died from rapidly developing refractory congestive heart failure. The diagnosis was indicated by transthoracic echocardiography and was ultimately made with transesophageal echocardiography and color flow Doppler imaging. Transesophageal echocardiography is the procedure of choice for establishing the correct diagnosis and leading to prompt surgical repair of this lethal condition.     

多平面经食管超声及彩色血流显像对人工瓣膜正常及病理性反流的诊断价值

目的 旨在评价多平面经食管超声及彩色血流显像对人工金属瓣膜正常和病理性反流的诊断价值。方法 经本院心外科进行瓣膜替换术的连续患者37例,男性19例,女性18例,平均年龄47.41±9.89岁,其中单瓣替换患者21例(二尖瓣替换患者17例,主动脉瓣替换患者4例),双瓣替换患者16例。所有患者均进行经胸超声和多平面经食管超声检查。 结果 (1)单纯二尖瓣替换患者,经胸超声和彩色血流显像诊断人工金属二尖瓣正常及病理性反流的准确性为64.7％,漏检率为18.1％,低估率为11.8％。(2)单纯主动脉瓣替换患者,经胸超声和彩色血流显像诊断人工主动脉瓣正常及病理性反流的准确性为50％,漏检率为25％,高估率为50％。(3)双瓣替换患者:经胸超声和彩色血流显像诊断二尖瓣正常及病理性反流的准确性为56.2％,高估率为25％,漏检率为31.2％,误诊率为18.8％。经胸超声和彩色血流显像诊断主动脉瓣正常及病理性反流的准确性为56.2％,高估率为43.7％,低估率为6％,漏检率6％,误诊率为31.3％。 结论 多平面经食管超声及彩色血流显像在评价人工金属瓣膜病理性反流方面优于经胸超声。     

Transesophageal echocardiographic identification of an aortic root to right atrial fistula in a patient with acute streptococcal aortic valve bacterial endocarditis.

We describe the case of a patient with acute aortic valve endocarditis complicated by aortic insufficiency, perivalvular abscess, and aortic root to right atrial fistula caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterial infective endocarditis. Although typically of low sensitivity for the diagnosis of myocardial abscess and similar complications of infective endocarditis, transthoracic echocardiogram successfully identified this relatively uncommon complication that was later confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography and at time of operation.     

Utility of transesophageal echocardiography for the characterization of cardiovascular anomalies associated with Turner's syndrome.

This case illustrates the complementary value of transesophageal echocardiography to routine transthoracic echocardiography in an asymptomatic adult patient with Turner's syndrome. The combined findings of bicuspid aortic valve, severe aortic dilation, coarctation of the aorta, and type A aortic dissection were clearly delineated by transesophageal echocardiography.     

Painless limited dissection of the ascending aorta presenting with aortic valve regurgitation

Aortic dissection is a medical emergency carrying high morbidity and mortality. Prompt diagnosis is sometimes difficult because of its varying presentations, but it is critical to the achievement of good clinical outcomes. This report describes 2 cases of painless aortic dissection that presented with aortic valve regurgitation. In both, the dissection was limited to the ascending aorta just distal to the aortic valve. These dissections were diagnosed by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.     

经胸及经食管超声心动图在诊断心脏疾病中的价值探讨

目的：比较经胸超声心动图（TTE）与经食管超声心动图（TEE）对心脏疾病中的诊断价值。方法：回顾分析行TEE与TTE对比检查46例心脏病患者的临床资料。结合直视下心脏外科手术、封堵术,比较TEE与TTE心脏超声影像特点,分析两者在诊断心脏疾病中的差异。结果：TEE诊断心脏疾病准确率为100%,TTE的准确率为82.6%。TEE虽然无法替代TTE,但它可以得到许多TTE无法获得的诊断信息。结论：术前开展TEE有助于提高心脏疾病诊断准确性。     

Localized pericardial tamponade: Difficult echocardiographic diagnosis of a rare complication after cardiac surgery

We report 2 cases of localized pericardial tamponade occurring soon after cardiac surgery, in which the diagnosis could not be made with transthoracic echocardiography. Computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography, respectively, were necessary, and this underlies the importance of alternative imaging modalities when this condition is suspected. A high index of suspicion is crucial for reaching the correct diagnosis.     

Use of transesophageal echocardiography for improving detection of valvular vegetations in subacute bacterial endocarditis

Subacute bacterial endocarditis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Valvular destruction, congestive heart failure, embolic phenomena, failure of medical therapy, and death are all more common in patients with echocardiographically discernible valvular lesions. Transthoracic echocardiography is often unsatisfactory for evaluation of vegetations in patients with chest wall deformities, lung disease, obesity, or prosthetic valves. The transesophageal approach affords uniformly high-quality images with excellent structural resolution. We present a case of suspected subacute bacterial endocarditis in a patient with equivocal diagnoses of vegetations on three separate transthoracic echocardiograms in whom transesophageal evaluation revealed obvious large vegetations that involved the aortic and mitral valves. Subsequent autopsy confirmed this diagnosis. The case illustrates the utility of a new imaging method for the detection of valvular vegetations. In view of the prognostic implications of detected vegetations, transesophageal echocardiography probably should be performed on all patients with suspected subacute bacterial endocarditis and equivocal results by transthoracic study.     

老年人主动脉瓣周钙化的影像诊断和临床意义

目的　评价经胸和食道超声心动图诊断老年人主动脉瓣周钙化的价值及其临床意义。方法　完成全部检查者共 5 0例 ,其中男性 2 4例 ,女性 2 6例 ,自身前后对照 ,每位入选对象先后接受经胸超声心动图 (TTE)、经食道超声心动图 (TEE)检查和螺旋CT检查各一次。结果　螺旋CT示瓣周钙化阳性 19例 ,阴性 31例。以螺旋CT为对照 ,TTE的敏感性为 6 3% ,特异性为 71% ,准确性为 6 8% ;TEE的敏感性为 79% ,特异性为 6 5 % ,准确性为 70 % ;联合检查的敏感性为 84 % ,特异性为 5 8% ,准确性为 6 8%。螺旋CT阳性组高血压发病率显著高于阴性组 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　三种检查方法比较 ,差异均有显著性意义(P <0 0 1)。以螺旋CT为对照 ,TEE诊断早期老年性主动脉瓣周钙化的敏感性显著高于TTE ,特异性和准确性接近     

Right-to-left shunt across a patent foramen ovale caused by cardiac tamponade: diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography

Cardiac tamponade can manifest as profound hypoxemia from intracardiac shunting across a patent foramen ovale. As a consequence, pulmonary embolus can be erroneously diagnosed. As demonstrated in the case described herein, transesophageal echocardiography can be useful in determining the correct diagnosis, especially if transthoracic echocardiography is technically limited. In our patient, the findings on transesophageal echocardiography also helped determine the appropriate treatment. The relative inaccessibility of the pericardial effusion to needle drainage prompted open surgical drainage.     

Aneurysm of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve secondary to aortic valve endocarditis.

Aneurysm of the anterior mitral leaflet is a rare complication of infective aortic valve endocarditis, the natural evolution of which is generally its rupture, with subsequent acute and severe mitral regurgitation. Its presence cannot be recognized with transthoracic echocardiography and even in surgery. We describe a 78-year-old man with aortic valve endocarditis, in whom transesophageal echocardiography was essential for the diagnosis of this complication, its therapeutic management, and the postoperative follow-up after simple valve repair. In addition, the most appropriate surgical approach is discussed.     

A case of a quadricuspid aortic valve identified preoperatively using transthoracic echocardiography

Quadricuspid aortic valve is an extremely rare congenital heart anomaly that often causes valve incompetence, requiring surgical intervention. Care must be taken to avoid surgical complications in patients with quadricuspid aortic valve; thus, preoperative diagnosis is important. A 76-year-old man presented with exertional dyspnea due to aortic regurgitation. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed severe aortic regurgitation caused by quadricuspid aortic valve. To avoid interference with the cardiac conduction system, we performed aortic valve replacement using an ingenious technique, in which pledgeted sutures on the accessory leaflet were placed from outside the sinus of Valsalva to above the aortic annulus. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged from the hospital without any complications. While preoperative diagnosis of quadricuspid aortic valve is considered difficult, we identified it preoperatively using transthoracic echocardiography; we were, thus, able to properly prepare for complete atrioventricular block.     

Comparison of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of intracardiac tumors in adults

To compare transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of intracardiac tumors, 17 patients (8 men and 9 women, aged 19 years to 67 years) whose intracardiac tumors were detected by echocardiography were studied in a 4-year period. Of these, 14 patients underwent cardiac surgery and 13 were proved to have tumors. There were 4 false-positive and 2 false-negative diagnoses by transthoracic echocardiography, but only one false-positive and no false-negative diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography. The stalk of a myxoma was detected clearly in 5 of 11 patients by transthoracic echocardiography, whereas in 10 of 11 it was detected by transesophageal echocardiography. The detailed morphologic characteristics of the tumor, such as contour of the tumor, and the presence of cysts and calcification in the tumor, were seen more clearly with transesophageal echocardiography than with transthoracic echocardiography. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Echocardiography in acute aortic syndrome

The role of echocardiography in acute aortic syndrome has changed significantly in recent years. With the introduction of harmonic imaging, transthoracic echocardiography has yielded substantial improvements in diagnosing aortic dissection, mainly in the ascending aorta, and it provides accurate information for aortic insufficiency quantification, pericardial effusion, and assessment of segmental alterations in ventricular contractility. Transesophageal echocardiography offers considerable advantages in diagnosing acute aortic syndrome, because it permits excellent visualization of the intimal flap and the intramural hematoma. The technique offers sufficient information to directly indicate surgery and is superior to other imaging techniques for locating entry tears and analyzing aortic regurgitation mechanisms. In cases of definitive diagnosis by CT, transesophageal echocardiography should be performed before surgical or endovascular treatment to provide essential information to allow development of an appropriate therapeutic strategy.     

An acquired interatrial fistula secondary to para-aortic abscess documented by transesophageal echocardiography

Para-aortic ring abscess and resulting fistulous communication between adjacent structures frequently occur in prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis but are rarely diagnosed preoperatively. We report a patient who had an abscess involving the aortic-mitral intervalvular fibrosa that eroded into the interatrial septum, causing an interatrial communication with a left-to-right shunt. The abscess was detected by transthoracic echocardiography, but the fistula was only seen by the subsequent transesophageal echocardiogram. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an interatrial fistula secondary to a para-aortic valve abscess and its diagnosis preoperatively. Transesophageal echocardiography should be performed in any patient suspected to have complicated aortic endocarditis.     

Acquired aorta-pulmonary artery fistula: diagnosis by multiple imaging modalities.

Acquired communication between the aorta and the pulmonary artery is a rare phenomenon. We describe two patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm in whom the diagnosis of a communication with the pulmonary artery was first made on transthoracic echocardiography and then more completely elucidated by means of multiple imaging modalities: transesophageal echocardiography, epiaortic ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Representative images from these complementary studies are presented. A successful repair of the fistula was subsequently accomplished in both patients.     

Transesophageal echocardiography: detection of an acquired left ventricular-right atrial shunt

Communication between the left ventricle and right atrium has a reported prevalence of less than 1%. Acquired left ventricular--right atrial shunt is caused by chest trauma or valvular surgery. A case of acquired left ventricular--right atrial shunt after aortic valve surgery is reported. The detection was possible by use of echo-Doppler, color flow imaging, and transesophageal echocardiography. Combined use of these modalities and multiple transducer positions when transthoracic echocardiography is used are recommended to make the diagnosis.     

Regurgitant flow in apparently normal valve prostheses: improved detection and semiquantitative analysis by transesophageal two-dimensional color-coded Doppler echocardiography

In 128 patients with apparently normally functioning prosthetic valves (n = 136) in the aortic position (n = 79) and the mitral position (n = 57), the prevalence of transprosthetic regurgitant flow was studied by use of transthoracic and transesophageal two-dimensional color-coded Doppler echocardiography. With the transthoracic approach, regurgitant flow was detected in early systole or diastole for 28% of the mitral prostheses and for 29% of the aortic prostheses. With transesophageal color-coded Doppler echocardiography, regurgitant jets were visualized for 95% of the mitral prostheses and for 44% of the aortic prostheses. In 40% of the Bj?rk-Shiley prostheses and 88% of the St. Jude Medical prostheses in the mitral position, more than one jet with an eccentric origin was detected, whereas in bioprostheses only one centrally localized regurgitant jet was noted. The regurgitant jet length was 22 +/- 2 mm in mitral prostheses and 12 +/- 2 mm in aortic prostheses. The jet area was 154 +/- 31 mm2 in mitral prostheses and 61 +/- 26 mm2 in aortic prostheses. Jets of this size and frequency have to be considered a normal finding and the equivalent of regurgitant flow known from in vitro studies. We conclude that only transesophageal color-coded Doppler echocardiography seems to be a reliable method for following up mitral valve prostheses to detect and differentiate regurgitant jets. For aortic valve prostheses the advantage of transesophageal color-coded Doppler echocardiography does not seem to be as obvious as the advantage for mitral prostheses.     

法乐氏四联症动态三维超声心动图研究

为了显示法乐氏四联症心脏的动态立体结构图像，本文采用经胸壁及经食管检查法对１０例正常人及１８例法乐氏四联症患者进行动态三维超声心动图研究，建立了不同切面心脏的立体剖面图，可分别从不同方向观察心脏病变部位的形态结构及活动状况。结果显示：除常规的二维断面观察外，还可从左或右室侧详细观察室间隔缺损及从主动脉瓣口观察主动脉骑跨空间隔的动态情况．心动周期不同时相右室流出道狭窄程度、室间隔缺损大小变化也可准确显示。动态二维图像清晰、直观、立体感强，可以确定病变的空间位置、形态及严重程度。为心外科制定手术方案及即刻评价疗效提供形态学依据。     

Echocardiography in the diagnosis of thoracic aortic pathology

Transthoracic two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography has been well established as a useful technique for evaluating many pathologic processes affecting the thoracic aorta. However, the distance of the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta from the chest wall and the interposition of highly attenuating lung and highly reflective mediastinal structures between the transducer and the aorta present unavoidable limitations. Transesophageal echocardiography is a relatively new technology that overcomes many of the inherent limitations with transthoracic imaging. Complete echocardiographic evaluation of the entire thoracic aorta can now be achieved in nearly all patients. This article will review the continually expanding role of echocardiography in the evaluation of thoracic aortic pathology, including the dramatic impact of transesophageal imaging on the diagnosis of life-threatening disorders such as aortic dissection.