Detection of central pulmonary artery thromboemboli by transesophageal echocardiography in patients with severe pulmonary embolism.

Transthoracic echocardiography generally provides only indirect signs of pulmonary embolism. In contrast, with transesophageal echocardiography the thromboembolus itself can be visualized in the central parts of the pulmonary artery. The aims of our study were to evaluate, first, the incidence of central pulmonary artery thromboemboli in patients with severe pulmonary embolism, and second, the accuracy of the echocardiographic diagnosis. Our study group comprised 60 patients with proved severe pulmonary embolism. All patients were examined by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. The echocardiographic findings concerning the absence or presence of central pulmonary artery thromboemboli were compared with the results of different reference methods. Central pulmonary thromboemboli were found in 35 patients (58.3%) by echocardiography. Two types of thrombus were differentiated. Type A is a long, highly mobile thrombus, and type B is an immobile wall-adherent thrombus. In comparison with the reference methods, we determined a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 88% for the echocardiographic detection of central pulmonary artery thromboemboli in patients with severe pulmonary embolism. Transesophageal echocardiography seems to be a useful method for the diagnosis of severe pulmonary embolism. In our series, central pulmonary artery thromboemboli were present in more than half of the patients. In these cases, transesophageal echocardiography can clarify the diagnosis within a few minutes without further invasive diagnostic procedures.     

L?ffler's syndrome: pulmonary vein and transmitral doppler flow analysis by transesophageal echocardiography-report of a case.

L?ffler's syndrome is defined by prolonged and profound eosinophilia and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Doppler echocardiography is useful in both the diagnosis and management of this entity. On the other hand, diastolic dysfunction is assessed better by transesophageal echocardiography than by transthoracic echocardiography, mainly in the analysis of pulmonary vein Doppler flow. We describe a patient with L?ffler's syndrome, whose pulmonary vein flow, obtained by transesophageal echocardiography, was helpful for better management of the disease.     

Fragmentation of a right atrial myxoma presenting as a pulmonary embolism.

We report here a tricky case of right atrial myxoma with a pulmonary localization mimicking pulmonary thromboembolism. The diagnosis on imaging investigation was delayed because of its atypical appearance. This case report emphasizes the leading role of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in the management of this condition. In autopsy series, the incidence of primary tumors of the heart is evaluated at 0.0017% to 0.19%.(1) Nearly half of them are myxoma.(1, 2) Myxoma are more frequently observed in adults and are commonly localized in the left atrium. Signs and symptoms are comparable to those arising in other cardiovascular and systemic conditions, including variable cardiac murmur, uneasiness, blackout, systemic embolism, cardiac insufficiency, lasting fever, or sudden death.(3) Rare cases of pulmonary embolism have been described. We report here an atypical case of right atrial myxoma with a pulmonary localization mimicking pulmonary embolus.     

Crossing atrial thrombus in a patient with recurrent pulmonary embolism

OBJECTIVES: To report the detection of a thrombus entrapped in a patent foramen ovale by echocardiography in a patient with recurrent pulmonary embolism. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENT: A 62-yr-old man with initial deep venous thrombosis and recurrent minor pulmonary embolism followed by a severe embolic event with transitory hemiparesis 10 days after prostatectomy. INTERVENTION: Systemic anticoagulation, surgical removal of a crossing atrial thrombus, closure of a patent foramen ovale, and venous thrombectomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large thrombus entrapped in a patent foramen ovale with portions in all four heart chambers. Intraoperatively, a 19-cm-long thrombus, shaped like the pelvic veins, was found. The patient was successfully weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, requiring temporary positive inotropic support because of right ventricular dysfunction. Within 24 hrs of the operation, the patient was discharged to the intermediate care unit. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent pulmonary embolism can potentially result in paradoxic embolism in patients with a patent foramen ovale. In such patients, it may be crucial to monitor right ventricular function and exclude right-to-left shunts by transesophageal echocardiography, regardless of clinical symptoms. The patent foramen ovale should be closed. This case emphasizes an important indication for transesophageal echocardiography in critically ill patients.     

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum: characterization by transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is a benign condition that must be distinguished from other space-occupying lesions of the atria. Patients with this disorder generally have chronic pulmonary disease and thus are difficult to image with conventional transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography can provide high quality imaging of intracardiac structures in patients who lack adequate transthoracic echocardiographic windows as a result of pulmonary disease. This case report describes the appearance of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum as investigated by transesophageal echocardiography.     

Value of transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography for detection of different types of atrial septal defect in adults.

In 121 adults, the value of transthoracic and transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography for detection of different types of atrial septal defect (ASD) or of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return was analyzed. The 121 patients had a total of 129 defects with left-to-right atrial shunting (including eight patients with two types of defects). All of six cases with primum-type ASD were diagnosed correctly by both echocardiographic methods. Ninety-seven patients showed a secundum-type ASD during transesophageal echocardiography: by transthoracic echocardiography, only eight (20%) of the 40 small defects (diameter < 5 mm) were detected as compared with 15 (83%) of the 18 defects with a diameter of 5 to 10 mm and all 39 defects with a diameter > 10 mm. A sinus venosus--type ASD was evident by transesophageal echocardiography in 11 patients, of which only one (9%) was demonstrated by the transthoracic approach. Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return was seen by transesophageal echocardiography in 13 patients but missed in two other patients in whom anomalous pulmonary venous return was subsequently identified by surgery (both with anomalous return of the upper right pulmonary vein into the superior vena cava). By use of the transthoracic technique, partial anomalous venous return was detected in only two cases, both of which had "scimitar syndrome." Compared with transthoracic echocardiography, the transesophageal approach is clearly superior in the detection of small secundum-type ASD, sinus venosus--type ASD, and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return.     

Left atrial appendage aneurysm presenting with recurrent embolic strokes

A case of left atrial appendage aneurysm is described in a 40-year-old man, who presented with recurrent embolic strokes and was asymptomatic until the last 6 months. Chest X-ray revealed a slightly prominent upper left heart border. The diagnosis was made by transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography and confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging and also by surgery.     

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.     

Myxoma of the mitral valve: diagnosis by 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional echocardiography.

In this report we describe a 39-year-old patient who had left-sided hemiparesis. In search of a source of embolism, we performed transthoracic echocardiography, which did not show any abnormalities. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a small tumor of the posterior mitral leaflet. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography was subsequently performed and demonstrated more accurate information about the size, the morphology, and the attachment point of the tumor. Furthermore, the reconstruction provided excellent spatial visualization of the pathomorphology of the mitral valve and was a useful addition for optimal preoperative diagnostic management. The tumor was excised, and histologic examination confirmed the myxomatous character of the tumor. Mitral valve myxomas are rare. This is the first case reported of a mitral valve myxoma being visualized by 3D echocardiography.     

Diagnosis of myocardial perforation by a Greenfield filter made by transesophageal echocardiography.

Greenfield filters have been successfully used to prevent pulmonary embolism in selected patients. However, various complications have been described. A patient is presented in whom a Greenfield filter migrated to the right atrium, and subsequently perforated the right atrial wall. The diagnosis was made by transesophageal echocardiography and the filter removed surgically. This case emphasizes the role of transesophageal echocardiography in the management of migrated Greenfield filters.     

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis demonstrated by repeat echocardiography

We report a case of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) in a patient with bladder cancer presenting with multiple cerebral infarctions. Initial transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography did not show any abnormalities. However, repeat transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a vegetation on the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve with mild mitral regurgitation and no evidence of leaflet destruction. Persistent high-grade fevers and leukocytosis were observed. The patient was suspected to have infective endocarditis. However, abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography scan revealed multiple metastatic masses, and serial blood cultures were negative. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with NBTE associated with multiple metastases of bladder cancer. This case suggests that even if echocardiography does not initially demonstrate any abnormalities in patients with embolism, it must be repeated at the recurrence of embolism, and that even if clinical signs of infection are documented, NBTE should be suspected in any cancer patient with thromboembolic events.     

Blood cyst of the mitral valve apparatus in a woman with a history of orthotopic liver transplantation.

Blood cysts within the heart are rare findings in adults. We describe a case of a woman with a history of orthotopic liver transplantation who presented for an echocardiogram to evaluate a potential source of cerebrovascular embolism. A cystic mass attached to the submitral valve apparatus was identified by transthoracic and confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography. Surgical exploration and pathologic examination confirmed the mass to be a blood cyst attached to the chordal apparatus of the posterior papillary muscle. This case report highlights the use of echocardiography in diagnosing intracardiac blood cysts.     

Transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation of left atrial mass lesions

Transesophageal echocardiography with color flow Doppler studies was performed on 12 consecutive patients who had left atrial mass identified by transthoracic echocardiography. In two patients with atrial myxoma, transesophageal study identified the tumor by its attachment to the atrial septum. In all instances, the tumors were larger and more mobile by transesophageal study and influenced the decision to operate early on an asymptomatic patient. In six instances the masses in the atria were deemed to be thrombi because of associated spontaneous echo contrast, location in the left atrial appendage, mitral valvular disease or prosthesis, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, and enlarged left atrial chamber. In two patients the left atrial masses on transesophageal imaging were large vegetations attached to the mitral valve with ruptured chordae tendineae. In two patients, because of superior quality images obtained by transesophageal imaging, the atrial mass lesions were deemed to be a prominent muscle band between the left atrial appendage and left upper pulmonary vein. In conclusion, transesophageal echocardiography is superior to transthoracic imaging in elucidating the cause and significance of atrial mass lesions and helps in guiding appropriate therapy.     

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。     

Fenestrated atrial septal aneurysm: diagnosis by transesophageal echocardiography

The diagnosis of atrial septal defect by transthoracic echocardiography remains difficult in a small subset of patients because of either suboptimal acoustic windows or unusual anatomy, for example, fenestrated defects. We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with a fenestrated atrial septal aneurysm that was incompletely visualized by transthoracic echocardiography. Subsequent transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated three defects within the atrial septal aneurysm with left-to-right shunting across each defect. Normal pulmonary venous connections were also defined. All echocardiographic findings were confirmed at surgery. This case demonstrates the additional diagnostic accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography for detecting disease of the atrial septum.     

Management of a pulmonary artery embolectomy and recurrent embolus

Pulmonary emboli are complex syndromes of altered coagulation and perfusion that remain prevalent among the population, especially the hospitalized. Adequate preparation by the clinicians and realization of the subtle yet potentially catastrophic nature of pulmonary emboli are critical when surgical intervention is required. This case report describes a 49-year-old woman with a diagnosis of massive pulmonary embolism who was brought to the operating room for emergent pulmonary artery embolectomy. Despite a profound Venouobstruction in her main pulmonary artery, she arrived in no acute distress and with stable hemodynamic values. During induction of general anesthesia, she quickly decompensated, requiring emergent cardiopulmonary bypass. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography guided the multistep surgery, resulting in the recognition of a recurrent right atrial embolus. The patient tolerated the procedure and ultimately had a favorable hospital course.     

Unusual cases of infective endocarditis.

We report 2 patients with unusual cases of infective endocarditis. The first patient had a large, mural vegetation on left ventricle that was diagnosed with transthoracic echocardiography; and the second patient had a large, mobile vegetation in the descending prosthetic aorta with an abscess cavity around the vessel, diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography. This report confirms the usefulness of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of uncommon cases of endocarditis.     

Patent ductus arteriosus in an infant with atrioventricular septal defect and pulmonary hypertension: diagnosis by transesophageal color flow echocardiography

An infant with complete atrioventricular septal defect (atrioventricular canal) was examined by standard transthoracic two-dimensional pulsed Doppler and color Doppler echocardiography. No evidence of ductus arteriosus was present. Preoperative transesophageal echocardiography identified a patent ductus: the left-to-right shunt seen by color Doppler echocardiography was enhanced by pharmacologic maneuvers aimed at decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance and increasing systemic vascular resistance. Transesophageal echocardiography was found to be more sensitive than transthoracic echocardiography even in a small infant.     

Cor triatriatum with isolated pulmonary venous stenosis in an adult: diagnosis with transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography

The diagnosis of cor triatriatum in an adult was made from routine two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. The findings of aliasing and turbulence in the roof of the left atrium suggested pulmonary venous stenosis. A transesophageal echocardiogram defined both the hemodynamic features of nonobstructing cor triatriatum and the presence of isolated pulmonary venous stenosis. The clinical use of transesophageal echocardiography with color flow Doppler in the elucidation of complex anatomic substrate is demonstrated.     

Transthoracic echocardiographic demonstration of massive pulmonary thrombus caused by protein C deficiency.

Few cases of pulmonary embolism detected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) have been reported. We present a case of a patient affected by pulmonary embolism caused by protein C deficiency. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a thrombus in transit (ie, visualization of a thrombus within the pulmonary artery). A hypercoagulable state caused by deficiency of protein C is a rare cause of pulmonary thromboembolism. Our experience demonstrates a massive pulmonary thrombus resulting from such a deficiency. Transthoracic echocardiography should be considered as the first diagnostic method for patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.