Key result
Multiple beam two-dimensional echocardiography identified moving echo clusters in all 3 patients with aortic valve endocarditis, facilitating interpretation of single beam M-mode findings.
Why the study?
Does multiple beam echocardiography improve the detection and interpretation of vegetations in patients with aortic valve endocarditis?
Case Report (n=3)
Does multiple beam echocardiography improve the detection and interpretation of vegetations in patients with aortic valve endocarditis?
Multiple beam two-dimensional echocardiography improves the visualization and interpretation of aortic valve vegetations, potentially avoiding the need for high-risk cardiac catheterization.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May aid vegetation assessment in aortic endocarditis; hypothesis-generating, should not yet change practice.
Three patients with aortic valve endocarditis were studied. The single beam M-mode echocardiographic findings comprised the appearance in diastole of a cluster of shaggy echoes at the aortic valve in all three patients. Mitral flutter was seen in two patients and premature closure of the mitral valve in one patient. At multiple beam two-dimensional echocardiography, the echo cluster could in all three patients be seen to move perpendicular to the sound beams, ascending into the aorta in systole and descending in diastole. At valve replacement, vegetations were found that explained the abnormal echo cluster. The multiple beam echocardiography facilitated the interpretation of the single beam findings and increased the confidence therein. By applying the non-invasive modality of echocardiography in these patients with their high risk of embolism, cardiac catheterization may possibly be avoided.
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Pedersen et al. (1978) conducted a case report in Aortic valve endocarditis (n=3). Single and multiple beam echocardiography was evaluated on Echocardiographic findings of vegetations. Multiple beam two-dimensional echocardiography identified moving echo clusters in all 3 patients with aortic valve endocarditis, facilitating interpretation of single beam M-mode findings.
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