VALUE AND LIMITATIONS OF TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN ASSESSMENT OF MITRAL-VALVE PROSTHESES

Background. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography examination has become an integral part of the investigations performed in patients with mitral valve prostheses. The limitations of the transthoracic approach are well documented. Transesophageal echocardiography provides a unique window for achieving a clear view of the mitral prosthesis. Methods and Results. This study shows the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in clinical practice for assessment of patients with a mitral valve prosthesis. This technique demonstrated an abnormality in 48% of patients who had normal results on transthoracic examination. The overall sensitivity of transesophageal echocardiography was 96%. Conclusions. Transesophageal echocardiography constitutes an essential part of a comprehensive two-dimensional/Doppler echocardiographic examination in patients with suspected malfunction of mitral prostheses.