RESUMEN
The clinical usefulness of biplane color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography is illustrated by the results obtained in 300 successive examinations. The additional contribution of the newer longitudinal plane was judged significant or major in 64% of the cases. The method was useful mainly for intraoperative examinations, assessment of native valvular disease, prosthetic valve evaluation, search for tumors, and assessment of endocarditis, congenital heart disease, and aortic disease. In contrast, the longitudinal plane option was not contributory in 68% of the cases of thromboembolism. Typically, the technique aided in the evaluation of mitral valve insufficiency and the detection of paraprosthetic leaks. Lesions located at the level of the ascending aorta, the left and right ventricular outflow tracts, and the interatrial septum were also visualized best. The limitations of the method were negligible and the duration of the examination was not significantly increased in comparison to the monoplane method. When available, biplane transesophageal echocardiography seems to be preferred in most clinical settings.
Asunto(s)
Ecocardiografía Doppler/métodos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Enfermedades de la Aorta/diagnóstico por imagen , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Cardíacos , Endocarditis/diagnóstico por imagen , Esófago , Estudios de Evaluación como Asunto , Femenino , Cardiopatías Congénitas/diagnóstico por imagen , Neoplasias Cardíacas/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades de las Válvulas Cardíacas/diagnóstico por imagen , Prótesis Valvulares Cardíacas , Humanos , Periodo Intraoperatorio , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Tromboembolia/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
To characterize the spectrum of mitral regurgitation in mitral valve prolapse, one hundred patients were studied by color Doppler flow mapping. The findings were correlated with the clinical presentation and with the possible complications. Mitral regurgitation was absent in 46 patients, mild in 26 patients, moderate in 18 patients and severe in 10 patients. The jet orientation was central in 15 patients, antero-medial in 13 patients and postero-lateral in 26 patients. The regurgitation was early systolic in 7 patients, late systolic in 20 patients and holosystolic in 27 patients. A good agreement was observed between the color flow patterns and the presence, timing and radiation of a murmur. Systolic clicks were not predictors of the presence or the severity of regurgitation. The grade of mitral regurgitation was positively correlated with, age, left heart enlargement and valvular redundancy. No sex difference was observed. The prevalence of serious arrhythmias or cerebral ischemic events was not significantly increased when a regurgitation was present.
