Value and limitations of transesophageal echocardiography in evaluating prosthetic or bioprosthetic valve dysfunction.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F A Chaudhry.
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To determine the diagnostic accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in prosthetic valve dysfunction, the pathologic and/or angiographic data from 37 valves were compared with that obtained by transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography. Of the 21 prostheses with severe regurgitation, TEE identified all 14 mitral, the five aortic, and one of the two tricuspid valves; on the other hand transthoracic echocardiography identified 2 of the 14 mitral, the five aortic, and one of the two tricuspid valves. Of the 10 prostheses with flail cusp(s), nine (90%) were correctly identified by TEE and four (40%) were correctly identified by transthoracic echocardiography. All five prostheses with paravalvular regurgitation were detected through the esophageal window and one detected through the precordial window. TEE was unable to document the two prosthetic aortic stenoses, whereas the transthoracic examination correctly quantified the gradient in one but underestimated it in the other case. Seven patients underwent valve replacement on the basis of the clinical and TEE information alone. In assessing cause, origin, and severity of prosthetic mitral regurgitation, TEE is the method of choice. In selected cases, TEE can avoid angiography and facilitate optimal timing of reoperation. In selected aortic and tricuspid dysfunction, TEE may provide additional morphologic, but limited hemodynamic information.
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Left ventricular function is one of the most important determinates of long-term prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease. In recent years, it has become apparent that left ventricular dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease is not always an irreversible process stemming from myocardial necrosis and fibrosis. Myocardial tissue can undergo both a state of potential reversible dysfunction because of prolonged sustained ischemia (hibernating myocardium) or episodes of acute ischemia (stunned myocardium). Revascularization of this tissue may improve regional and global left ventricular function and therefore prognosis. Numerous studies have now firmly established dobutamine echocardiography as a safe, reliable, and accurate imaging modality in the assessment of reversible left ventricular dysfunction. Furthermore, dobutamine echocardiography has been shown to have good sensitivity, specificity, and, more importantly, positive predictive accuracy in identifying both acute and chronic reversible left ventricular dysfunction for risk satisfaction and prognosis.