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。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Recurrent pulmonary embolism originating from right atrial myxoma.

The use of transesophageal echocardiography is a useful adjunct to transthoracic echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of right atrial tumors in patients who are thought to have idiopathic recurrent pulmonary embolism, especially with suboptimal transthoracic echocardiography studies. We describe a 30-year-old woman with a history of recurrent pulmonary embolism who was admitted for investigation of pleuritic chest pain in whom transesophageal echocardiography played a critical role in the diagnosis and management.     

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.)     

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     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Role of transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosis and management of cardiac hydatid cyst: report of three cases and review of the literature.

Although diagnostic value of transthoracic echocardiography in cardiac echinococcus is well established, the role of transesophageal echocardiography in both the diagnosis and the management of this entity is not well known. We present 3 unusual cases of cardiac hydatid cyst in which transesophageal echocardiography was used. A review of the literature on the subject is also presented.     

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.     

Dissection of the proximal thoracic aorta: a new ultrasonographic sign in the subxiphoid view

Dissection of the thoracic aorta is a life-threatening event that presents with some regularity to emergency departments (EDs). Despite often nonspecific symptoms, it is critical to catch this disease process early, especially when the proximal aorta is involved because dissections involving the aortic root can lead to myocardial infarction and failure of the aortic valve resulting in death. Current imaging options include contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT), angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, or transesophageal echocardiography. Although not as accurate as transesophageal echocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) can be used to detect aortic dissection as well. We present a previously undescribed echocardiographic finding associated with proximal dissection of the thoracic aorta in 7 cases.     

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。     

Thrombosis of a bileaflet prosthetic mitral valve: a real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography perspective

Rheumatic mitral valve disease being common in India, valve replacement and hence thrombosis of prosthetic heart valves (PHV) are not uncommon. The diagnosis is commonly established by increased gradients across PHV during transthoracic echo and restricted leaflet movement during transesophageal echo or fluoroscopy. We demonstrated both the leaflets of a thrombosed PHV,of which one was stuck in closed position by real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.     

经食管实时三维超声在成人房间隔缺损封堵术术前评估中的应用

目的 探讨经食管实时三维超声心动图(RT-3D-TEE) 在成人房间隔缺损(ASD)封堵术前评估中的应用价值。方法 43例经胸二维超声(2D-TTE)拟诊为继发孔型ASD的成人患者进行了RT-3D-TEE检查,重点观察ASD缺损口的形态,测量ASD最大径、缺损口形态及各方位的残缘及与腔静脉的距离。筛选可封堵的病例行经导管ASD封堵术,分析缺损最大径与封堵器型号的平均绝对误差,以评价各种成像方法测量的准确性。结果 3例ASD过大,RT-3D-TEE未能获得完整的三维重建图、1例经TEE诊为原发孔型ASD未入组;39 例RT-3D-TEE 显示满意,确诊为继发孔型ASD(以下简称ASD),其中 27 例ASD形态为椭圆形,6 例为类圆形,1 例为筛孔型,5例为不规则型;16例ASD各方位有较完整的残缘,23例存在一侧以上的残缘缺失;临床根据RT-3D-TEE检查ASD大小、形态及各方位残缘等条件筛选后,有23例进行了经导管ASD封堵术,成功21例(成功率91.3%,21／23),未成功的2例及未进行封堵术的6例(共8例)进行了外科修补术,11例出院择期治疗或放弃治疗。RT-3D-TEE测量的缺损最大径和封堵器直径的平均绝对差值小于TTE、TEE-Xplane(经食管双平面成像)这两种方法的结果,且差异有统计学意义( p<0.05)。结论 RT3D-TEE能清晰显示ASD的三维重建切面,逼真地显示ASD的形状,直观、精准测量缺损口的各种径线,在封堵术前评估内科导管介入封堵和外科修补治疗方案选择中有更重要的指导价值。     

Aortopulmonary fistula detected by echocardiography 12 years after aortoplasty for correction of ascending aorta aneurysm.

We describe a case of aortopulmonary fistula in which the correct diagnosis was made by transthoracic echocardiography. The transesophageal approach, because of severe aortic dilatation, failed to provide the correct diagnosis, underlining the importance of complete transthoracic and transesophageal studies in the evaluation of aortic aneurysms.     

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.