title: Comparison of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography for assessment of left-sided valvular regurgitation.
abstract: To compare transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in the clinical assessment of left-sided valvular regurgitation, 118 patients who underwent both transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiographic studies within a 24-hour period were included in this study. Presence or absence of aortic regurgitation was identified concordantly by both techniques in 93 patients (79%). Complete agreement between both techniques was found in 88 patients (75%). Presence or absence of mitral regurgitation was identified concordantly by both techniques in 89 patients (75%). Complete agreement in grade was found in only 74 patients (63%). Twenty-nine patients (25%) had mitral regurgitation detected by transesophageal echocardiography, but not by transthoracic echocardiography. Four of these patients (14%) had significant (2 to 3+) mitral regurgitation. Differences between transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography do not appear to be clinically important in patients with aortic regurgitation. In mitral regurgitation, significant differences exist between these 2 techniques, with transesophageal echocardiography being much more sensitive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St. Louis University Medical Center, Missouri.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castello
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lenzen
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Labovitz
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013909:Thorax; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left