Utility of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of aortic conduit endocarditis in patients who have undergone the Cabrol procedure.

The Cabrol procedure is being increasingly performed in patients with aortic pathologic conditions. Transesophageal echocardiography can help in the prompt diagnosis of endocarditis in these patients. In this report we present transesophageal echocardiographic features of two patients in whom endocarditis developed after they underwent the Cabrol procedure for ascending aortic aneurysm caused by Marfan's syndrome.     

Diagnostic value of transesophageal echocardiography in atrial septal aneurysm

Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 40 consecutive adult patients with an atrial septal aneurysm. In 11 (27%) of 40 patients transthoracic echocardiography failed to demonstrate the lesion and the diagnosis was established by the transesophageal approach only. Interatrial shunting, assessed by echocardiographic contrast study and/or color flow mapping, was detected in 13 (54%) of 24 patients on transthoracic imaging and in 29 (76%) of 38 patients during transesophageal echocardiography. Identification of multiple fenestrations (n=9) and thrombi within the aneurysm (n=2) could be achieved only by transesophageal ultrasound. A cerebrovascular event of suspected embolic origin occurred in 20 (50%) of 40 patients; 11 (55%) of the 20 patients had repeated cerebral events. Except for mitral valve prolapse in 2 patients and spontaneous left atrial contrast phenomenon in 1 patient no other potential cardiac source of embolism could be identified by transesophageal echocardiography. A marked thickening of the aneurysm was present in 14 (70%) of 20 patients with a cerebrovascular event versus only 4 (20%) of 20 patients without a cerebrovascular event (p<0,01). The mechanism of embolization may be both primary thrombus formation within the aneurysm and paradoxical embolization through an interatrial communication as suggested by the findings on transesophageal ultrasound in 2 patients. Although the patients of this study represent a highly selected group it may be concluded that atrial septal aneurysm is a cardiac abnormality with embolic potential. Transesophageal echocardiography has to be regarded the imaging method of choice for evaluation of this lesion.     

Right coronary artery-to-right ventricle fistula complicating percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: case report and review of the literature.

This case report describes an iatrogenic right coronary artery-to-right ventricle fistula resulting from percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. In this patient transthoracic echocardiography with Doppler color flow mapping allowed direct visualization of the right coronary artery aneurysm and the coronary fistula, enabling us to identify the cardiac chamber into which the fistula drained. Transthoracic echocardiography was used for follow-up of this patient, demonstrating spontaneous closure of the fistula within 3 months of the procedure. In addition, this article provides a brief overview of reported cases of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty-induced coronary fistulae. The clinical course of this complication and therapeutic approaches presented in the literature are also briefly discussed.     

Pulmonary artery compression by a saphenous vein graft aneurysm and contrast echocardiography using an agitated mixture of ten percent air, ten percent blood, and ten percent saline

This case illustrates the use of intravenous injection of an agitated mixture of 10% air, 10% blood, and 80% saline during intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in a patient with a saphenous vein graft aneurysm compressing the main pulmonary artery.     

Assessment of transmural coronary blood flow with intraoperative transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography during coronary revascularization.

Intraoperative color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography with a 4- to 7-MHz transducer was performed on 28 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting to image and evaluate the transmural coronary blood flow before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. The transmural coronary flow was visualized in 26 (92.8%) of 28 patients in the inferior wall and in 13 (46.4%) of 28 patients in the lateral wall. The peak diastolic flow velocity of the transmural coronary artery in the inferior and lateral wall was significantly increased after coronary revascularization in patients with a successful bypass graft to the right coronary artery (from 34.0 +/- 19.7 to 64.9 +/- 30.9 cm/s, P <.001, n = 10) and to the left circumflex coronary artery (from 35.1 +/- 18.6 to 62.1 +/- 21.1 cm/s, P <.001, n = 10). No significant changes were observed in patients with no bypass graft to the right or left circumflex coronary artery. Coronary blood flow can be mapped and the velocity measured with Doppler transesophageal echocardiography with a high-frequency (4- to 7-MHz) transducer. Assessment of the transmural coronary flow may provide valuable information and aid in decision making during surgical revascularization.     

The Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Right Atrial Thrombi

Twenty patients with right atrial thrombi were identified through the use of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography identified right atrial thrombi in all 20 cases. Transthoracic echocardiography showed definite thrombi in only 6 (30%) cases and suggested thrombus in another 2 (10%) patients. Thus transthoracic echocardiography results were false-negative for right atrial thrombus in 60% of cases. All 3 thrombi found within the right atrial appendage and 2 of 3 thrombi on pacemaker wires were missed by transthoracic echocardiography. There was no significant difference in the mean size between those thrombi seen (1.37 ± 0.6 cm) and those missed (1.5 ± 0.9 cm) by transthoracic echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography also significantly affected treatment. Anticoagulation was initiated or amplified in 13 patients. In 8 of these 13, thrombi were seen only by transesophageal echocardiography. Surgery was performed to remove thrombi in 7 cases, and in 3 (43%) cases it was because of thrombi seen only by transesophageal echocardiography. This study suggests that transesophageal echocardiography should be performed whenever right atrial thrombi are suspected. Transesophageal echocardiography has a significant effect on the diagnosis and management of patients with right atrial thrombi. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999;12:64-9.)     

应用Cabrol手术治疗急性A型主动脉夹层根部病变

目的 Cabrol手术由Cabrol C教授于1981年首创,但至今关于该术式用于治疗A型主动脉夹层的报道并不多。本研究对我中心近7年来应用Cabrol术式治疗急性A型主动脉根部病变的病例进行总结。 方法 2009年1月~2016年12月,共有47例急性A型主动脉夹层的患者在我中心接受Cabrol手术治疗。所有病例术前均经心脏彩超及主动脉增强CT检查确诊。对其根部病变应用Cabrol技术处理,弓部病变采用半弓置换或全弓置换。对所有病例的相关数据进行回顾性分析。 结果 总共纳入47例患者,其中6例为单纯Cabrol手术,13例为Cabrol+右半弓置换,28例为Cabrol+孙氏手术。总的30 d死亡率为10.6%（5/47）。住院期间急性肾功能衰竭发生率25.5%（12/47）,有12.8%（6/47）的病人需要接受连续肾脏替代治疗。中位住院时间为25.5 d（15~128 d）,随访时间6~36月。 结论 Cabrol手术用于急性A型主动脉夹层的病人根部处理安全有效,术中部分技术细节需要注意。       

Detection of prosthetic mitral valve leak: a comparative study using transesophageal echocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, and auscultation

Paravalvular leakage is a major complication of prosthetic valve dysfunction. Sixty-one subjects with valvular heart disease who had received prosthetic mitral valve replacement 5 months to 5 years before (43 received a porcine prosthesis and 18 received Bjork-Shiley valve prostheses) were evaluated for this complication. Careful auscultation was performed by two experienced cardiologists followed by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Physiologic leaks were detected in all Bjork-Shiley valves, but in only 30% of porcine valves using transesophageal echocardiography. These regurgitant jets were flame-like, with mean low velocities of 50 +/- 12.3 cm/sec and 48 +/- 18.2 cm/sec in the two types of valves. Neither transthoracic echocardiography nor auscultation could detect physiological regurgitant jets. Ten cases with paravalvular leak were detected by transesophageal echocardiography and subsequently demonstrated by left ventriculography (7 porcine, 3 Bjork-Shiley valves). Pathologic regurgitant jets were seen as high-velocity, systolic-retrograde turbulent flow across the prosthesis. However, only 6 cases of prosthetic valve dysfunction were detected by transthoracic echocardiography, 4 cases of mild paravalvular leakage went undetected. Thirteen of the 61 subjects had an apical systolic murmur and suspected prosthetic valve leakage; in 10 of the 13 cases the findings corresponded to those obtained by transesophageal echocardiography. In 3 cases of double valve replacement with Bjork-Shiley valves the magnitude of the leakage was overestimated by auscultation.     

Successful surgical repair of a giant left main coronary artery aneurysm with arteriovenous fistula draining into a persistent left superior vena cava and coronary sinus: role of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography

We report the case of a 74-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and pacemaker who presented to the hospital with new onset New York Heart Association class IV congestive heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a markedly dilated right ventricle with normal right ventricular systolic function. There was moderate pulmonary hypertension with an estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 60 mm Hg. Her echocardiogram 1 year earlier had demonstrated normal right ventricular size and systolic function, and no pulmonary hypertension. Additional transthoracic imaging with saline contrast study through a left peripheral vein demonstrated the presence of a dilated coronary sinus with a persistent left superior vena cava. Color Doppler demonstrated turbulent flow within the coronary sinus with evidence of significant left-to-right shunting. Cardiac catheterization revealed a massively dilated left main coronary artery aneurysm with an arteriovenous fistula into the left superior vena cava and coronary sinus. The calculated Qp/Qs was 2:1. The patient underwent 2 unsuccessful attempts at percutaneous intervention to occlude the arteriovenous fistula. She then underwent successful surgical closure of the coronary arteriovenous fistula. The important role of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in guiding this technically challenging surgical case is discussed.     

Giant interatrial septal aneurysm mimicking a right atrial tumor

We report the case of a patient with a giant interatrial septum aneurysm who was admitted to our hospital for analysis of palpitations. Transthoracic echocardiography was not contributive and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a small interatrial septal aneurysm. In our study, only transesophageal echocardiography provided the correct diagnosis, showing a giant interatrial septal aneurysm protruding far away into the right atrium and mimicking a right atrial cystic tumor.     

Echocardiographic Diagnosis of a Right Coronary Artery-Coronary Sinus Fistula

In this case report, we describe a 67-year-old woman with right coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula. This woman had complaints of chest pain. Ischemic ECG changes and a ventricular tachycardia were detected on her electrocardiogram. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large right coronary artery and a dilated coronary sinus. Drainage of the coronary artery to the coronary sinus was detected by colour flow mapping during transesophageal echocardiographic examination, and a 94 mmHg peak gradient was recorded by continuous wave Doppler at the drainage site. These findings were confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography can provide definitive confirmation of the right coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula, and can be the diagnostic procedure of choice when this anomaly is suspected.     

Transesophageal echocardiography during percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty

To ascertain the value of transesophageal echocardiography during percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty, the present study was undertaken in 26 anesthesized patients (21 women and 5 men; mean age, 47 years) with symptomatic rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. In all but one patient the balloon dilation of the mitral valve was successful and Doppler-derived valve area increased (0.9 +/- 0.3 to 1.9 +/- 0.4 cm2). Transesophageal echocardiography provides continuous monitoring, as well as guidance of the procedure. Crossing the arterial septum, as well as delivery of the sheath through the mitral valve orifice and correct positioning of the balloon, was highly facilitated and reduced x-ray exposure time. The degree of mitral regurgitation and the presence of interatrial shunting at the end of the procedure could be readily assessed, making cineangiography not necessary. Complications of the procedure, such as pericardial effusion, could be detected before hemodynamic deterioration had occurred (one patient). The advantages of transesophageal echocardiography for routine monitoring of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty, however, should be weighted against the added risk and expense of this support.     

Echocardiographic diagnosis of an asymptomatic aneurysm of a saphenous vein graft.

A case of a 73-year-old asymptomatic man with a large saphenous vein graft aneurysm first diagnosed 16 years after bypass operation is presented. The lesion was first suspected on routine transthoracic echocardiography and further clarified by transesophageal echocardiography. Selective graft angiography confirmed the diagnosis and surgical therapy included resection of the graft aneurysm and coronary artery bypass grafting.     

Pulmonary Stenosis Caused by Extrinsic Compression of an Aortic Pseudoaneurysm of a Composite Aortic Graft

Pulmonic stenosis and stenosis of the right ventricular outflow tract related to extrinsic compression have been described in patients with tumors, in a patient with a pericardial cyst, and in patients with vascular abnormalities as an unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, a giant coronary artery pseudoaneurysm and an aortic arch aneurysm. Composite graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with reimplantation of the coronary arteries has some inherent complications. Our case report describes a patient with a pericomposite graft aneurysm presenting as a stenosis of the pulmonary artery, detected by Doppler echocardiography. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999;12:997-1000.)     

Transesophageal echocardiography in critically ill patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and utility of transesophageal echocardiography performed by intensive care physicians in critically ill patients. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: A 24-bed multidisciplinary adult intensive care unit in a 692-bed tertiary referral teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Two hundred fifty-five intensive care patients. INTERVENTIONS: We studied 255 consecutive intensive care patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography between January 1996 and January 2000. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three hundred eight transesophageal echocardiography studies were successfully performed; the probe could not be passed in one patient with a cervical fracture. The indications included unexplained hypotension (40%), known or suspected endocarditis (27%), assessment of ventricular function (15%), pulmonary edema (5%), source of embolus (4%), assessment of aorta (4%), and other (5%). In 67% of hypotensive patients, transesophageal echocardiography revealed the cause of hemodynamic instability, leading to a management change and improvement in blood pressure in 31%. This included surgery in 22% without the need for additional tests. Overall, transesophageal echocardiography findings led to a significant change in management in 32% of all studies performed. One patient receiving continuous positive airways pressure suffered pulmonary aspiration during tracheal intubation before transesophageal echocardiography, two patients had hypotension associated with sedative medication, and there was one case of oropharyngeal bleeding after probe insertion. CONCLUSION: Transesophageal echocardiography when performed by intensive care physicians is a safe procedure and provides useful information for the evaluation and management of critically ill patients.     

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.     

Unusual clinical course after surgical repair of unruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva

Aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva are characterized by dilatation of at least one of the three aortic sinuses. We experienced a case with unruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva, in which serial imaging studies were useful in assessing a rare complication after surgical repair. An asymptomatic 75-year-old man underwent patch closure of the aneurysm orifice because of progressive enlargement of the aneurysm. The postoperative course was uneventful, and computed tomography (CT), performed a week after the patch repair, showed no leakage of contrast medium into the isolated aneurysm. Three months later, echocardiography showed decreased size of the aneurysm with heterogeneous echogenicity and possible blood flow in the aneurysm, findings suggestive of thrombus formation and a recurrent fistula. CT with contrast medium showed partial recanalization between the patched aneurysm and the right sinus of Valsalva. Follow-up echocardiography, performed 1 year after surgery, revealed neither definite aneurysm nor shunt flow of Valsalva. The present case highlights that non-invasive follow-up can be an alternative option when carried out with caution in selected patients with incomplete closure of Valsalva aneurysm.     

Right atrial spontaneous contrast: echocardiographic and clinical features

We describe the clinical and echocardiographic findings in eight patients with right atrial spontaneous echo contrast who were identified from 648 consecutive patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography. Common findings in these patients were right atrial enlargement (8 patients), tricuspid regurgitation (7 patients), atrial fibrillation or flutter (6 patients), elevated right ventricular pressure (5 patients), moderate or severe mitral valve disease (5 patients), and right to left interatrial shunts (3 patients). Right heart catheterization in three patients showed markedly elevated right atrial, right ventricular, and pulmonary artery pressures. Two patients had thromboembolic events — one patient had recurrent pulmonary emboli, and another patient with an atrial septal aneurysm had recurrent transient ischemic attacks. Right atrial echo contrast is an uncommon finding at echocardiography that is associated with severe right heart dysfunction. It may also be associated with paradoxical or pulmonary embolism.     

Right upper lobe pulmonary edema after mitral valve replacement caused by paravalvular leakage recognized by bedside transesophageal echocardiography

OBJECTIVE: To describe an unusual case of right upper lobe pulmonary edema caused by acute paravalvular leakage that was identified by the use of bedside transesophageal echocardiography. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENT: A 59-yr-old male patient underwent prosthetic mitral valve replacement (St. Jude valve) for severe mitral regurgitation and developed sudden onset of dyspnea and change in consciousness with blood pressure decreased to 70/30 mm Hg. Elevation of central venous pressure and images of transthoracic echocardiography led to the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. CONCLUSION: Acute paravalvular leakage after mitral valvular replacement should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses for unilateral pulmonary edema. Physical findings of a holosystolic murmur and findings from bedside transesophageal echocardiography can confirm the diagnosis, avoiding delay in management.