Transthoracic versus intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography in right heart assessment

Figure 1. Transesophageal echocardiographic right ventricular-focused mid-esophageal four-chamber view. (A) The tricuspid annulus septolateral diameter at end-diastole; (B) the right ventricular basal diameter at end-diastole.

Figure 2. Orientation of transesophageal (Top) and transthoracic (Bottom) imaging windows in measuring the tricuspid annulus septolateral diameter. Images reproduced and adapted with permission from “Virtual Transesophageal Echocardiography”. Toronto General Hospital, Department of Anesthesia. Available online: http://pie.med.utoronto.ca. Red line, tricuspid annulus septolateral diameter.

Figure 3. Spearman’s correlation coefficient scatterplot between measurements of the tricuspid annular diameter in the mid-esophageal four-chamber and apical four-chamber echocardiographic views. Units are in millimeters. Spearman’s Correlation Coefficient (r) =0.72; P<0.01. A4C, apical four-chamber; ME4C, mid-esophageal four-chamber; TEE, transesophageal echocardiography; TTE, transthoracic echocardiography.

Figure 4. Spearman’s correlation coefficient scatterplot between measurements of the right ventricular basal diameter in the mid-esophageal four-chamber and apical four-chamber echocardiographic views. Units are in millimeters. Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r) =0.61; P<0.01. A4C, apical four-chamber; ME4C, mid-esophageal four-chamber; N, number; TEE, transesophageal echocardiography; TTE, transthoracic echocardiography.