Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at the Institute of Cardiology in Abidjan: indications, results and diagnostic accuracy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to define the indications for and results and diagnostic accuracy of transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the Abidjan Cardiology Institute. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out of 103 TEE reports from February 2007 to January 2011. The analysis focused on the clinical characteristics of the patients, quality of the prescribers, and indications and diagnostic accuracy (proportion of confirmed diagnoses, which is the ratio of 'anomaly found/number of examinations made for the indication'). RESULTS: There were 47 women (45.6%) and 56 men (54. 4%) in the study, with an average age of 37.9 ± 16.4 years. Prescribers were mostly cardiologists (n = 57; 55.4%). The indications were predominantly evaluation for atrial septal defect (ASD, 34.9%), investigation for thrombus due to rhythm disturbance before cardioversion (18.4%), aetiological evaluation of ischaemic stroke (13.5%), and assessment for mitral regurgitation (lesion assessment, mechanism and/or quantification, 9.7%). In the evaluation for an ASD, TEE was contributory in 17.3% and for thrombus, it was 21%. No embolic aetiology was found in the ischaemic strokes. Three examinations weredone during cardiac surgery to assess the mechanical valves or quality of mitral plasty. There were no incidents or accidents reported during those 103 examinations. CONCLUSION: Because of the high number of congenital heart disease cases discovered in adulthood involving arrhythmias and valvular heart disease, TEE is likely to become more important as a means of diagnosis, and should be used correctly so as to achieve optimal diagnostic advantage. TEE should be provided by specialists not cardiologists.