Two- and three-dimensional echocardiography in primary antiphospholipid syndrome: misdiagnosis as rheumatic valve disease.

This is a report of a woman in the fifth decade of life with primary antiphospholipid syndrome and involvement of a heart valve. Diagnosis was reached with echocardiography and serological studies.

[Transesophageal echocardiography. General principles and applications]. / Ecocardiografia transesofagica. Principios generales y aplicaciones.

A new echocardiographic technique is described, which allows cardiovascular ultrasonic exploration by means of a transducer mounted on the distal tip of a gastroscope. The transducer is moved along the esophagus and from time to time into the stomach, which permits real-time visualization of the different cardiac segments and the great arteries. This technique is of special utility in the exploration of posterior structures as are the left atrium and its appendage, the pulmonary veins, etc. The most important views in the transverse plane are described, as well as the technical aspects, the limitations and the possible complications.