Multiplane Transesophageal Echocardiography for Multiclinical dilemmas

Introduction. Transesophageal echocar¬diography was introduced 4 decades ago. Its use have had very limited clinical indication. Now it has become very useful clinical tool. Indications for its use are almost as indica¬tions for transthoracic echocardiography, especially to assess deeper cardiovascular structures. Transesophageal echocardiog¬raphy is semi-invasive examination with small number of complications. Aim of the study. To determine usefulness of trans¬esophageal echocardiography in various cardiac conditions based in our experience. Also to encourage use of transesophageal echocardiography as reliable examination. Methods. All of the patients signed a Term of Free Informed Consent, approved from Ethics Committee. We enrolled 425 patients who have done TEE in last 5 years (2006-2010) by authors. Medical history and Clinical evaluation was carefully performed by expert cardiologists. Procedures were performed in two different centers using machines, PHILIPS iE33 and Siemens ac- cuson CV 70, with equipment attached to a multi frequency 2.5 to 3.5 MHz for TTE and 7.0 MHz for TEE multiplane transducer. TEE were performed and images were obtained according to the standard recommanda- tions. Results. The results were analyzed by a standard method of descriptive statistics using Pivot Table of Excel Office 2007. Re¬sults. We have analyzed 425 transesopha¬geal echocardiography . The examination of the thoracic aorta in severe hyperten¬sion patients was conducted in 96 cases; atrial fibrillation in 118; aortic dissection 49 cases, aortic stenosis was evaluated in 28 cases; finding of source of emboli 36 cas¬es; suspicion for aneurysm of the thoracic aorta in 14 cases, 11 cases with suspected endocarditis; the type of intervention for mitral valve was evaluated in 28 cases. In¬teratrial septum abnormalities 37 cases; and miscellaneous 18 cases. No minor or mayor complications happened. Conlusion. Trans¬esophageal echocardiography can elucidate many dubious serious conditions immedi¬ately after it is performed. So, we think that transesophageal echocardiography is very useful tool in everyday clinical use, almost without complications if it is done correctly.