Key result
Transesophageal echocardiography is a highly suitable modality for evaluating the normal and abnormal morphologic and Doppler characteristics of prosthetic heart valves.
Transesophageal echocardiography is a highly suitable and essential modality for evaluating the morphologic and functional characteristics of prosthetic heart valves.
May guide TEE assessment of prosthetic valves; leaves open prospective validation before routine adoption.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is especially suitable for examination of prosthetic valves because of the proximity of the esophagus to the heart and absence of interference with lungs and ribs. This article reviews normal and abnormal morphologic characteristics of prosthetic valves such as spontaneous echocontrast, microbubbles, strands, sutures, vegetations or thrombus. Doppler echocardiographic characteristics of normal and pathologic prosthetic valve function and the management of prosthetic valve pathology is discussed. Physicians taking care of patients with prosthetic valves should be familiar with the characteristics of normal and abnormally functioning prosthetic valves.
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R. B. A. van den Brink (2006) conducted a review in Prosthetic heart valves. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was evaluated. Transesophageal echocardiography is a highly suitable modality for evaluating the normal and abnormal morphologic and Doppler characteristics of prosthetic heart valves.
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