Intracardiac echocardiography during simulated aortic and mitral balloon valvuloplasty: in vivo experimental studies.
The feasibility of intracardiac echocardiography with a low-frequency transducer to assess catheter position and detect complications during experimental aortic and mitral balloon valvuloplasty was studied in 10 dogs. Intracardiac echocardiography was performed with a transesophageal echocardiographic probe placed in the right atrium. In all instances high-quality images of cardiac structures were obtained. The guide wire and balloon catheter were clearly seen as they crossed the valves. With inflation the balloon was seen as a hyperechoic structure. Doppler echocardiography documented aortic regurgitation after inflations. Acute pericardial effusion was instantly detected. It is concluded that intracardiac echocardiography is a potentially useful technique for cardiac imaging, assessing wire and balloon catheter position, evaluating valvular regurgitation, and instantly detecting acute pericardial effusion. Further research in humans with low-frequency, catheter-based transducers needs to be performed.
Schwartz
S L
SL
Department of Medicine, New England Medical Center Hospitals, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Pandian
N G
NG
Kumar
R
R
Katz
S E
SE
Kusay
B S
BS
Aronovitz
M
M
Konstam
M A
MA
Salem
D N
DN
D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve; D002404:Catheterization; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006325:Heart Atria; D008943:Mitral Valve; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D014159:Transducers