Transesophageal dobutamine stress echocardiography in the evaluation of coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility, safety, sensitivity and specificity of transesophageal dobutamine stress echocardiography for the detection of coronary artery disease.


BACKGROUND
Dobutamine stress echocardiography has been shown to be an extremely sensitive and specific noninvasive technique for the detection of myocardial ischemia. However, inadequate transthoracic images preclude the use of dobutamine stress echocardiography in a small but significant group of patients. Transesophageal echocardiography provides better resolution than that obtained with routine transthoracic imaging.


METHODS
Patients scheduled for routine cardiac catheterization underwent transesophageal dobutamine stress echocardiography. All patients underwent coronary arteriography within 48 h of the study, and lesion severity was determined by quantitative coronary angiography. Significant coronary obstruction was defined as stenosis > 50%.


RESULTS
Fifty-one male patients were enrolled in the study; six were excluded for technical reasons. There were no adverse outcomes or complications. Of 27 patients with significant coronary artery disease, 22 had positive study results (sensitivity 82%). Of 13 patients without significant obstructive coronary disease, 1 had a false positive study result (specificity 93%). In patients with a minimal lumen diameter < 1.25 mm, sensitivity was > 80%, and in patients with a minimal lumen diameter > 1.5 mm, sensitivity was < 70%, suggesting that lesions with a minimal lumen diameter < 1.25 mm are more likely to be physiologically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Transesophageal dobutamine stress echocardiography is a feasible, safe and accurate technique for the detection of myocardial ischemia. There are inherent limitations to this technique in that transesophageal echocardiography must be performed. Transesophageal dobutamine stress echocardiography may allow extension of dobutamine stress testing to patients with inadequate transthoracic echocardiographic imaging and may provide an opportunity for further research applications.
Frohwein
S
S
Cardiology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Klein
J L
JL
Lane
A
A
Taylor
W R
WR
D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004280:Dobutamine; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005080:Exercise Test; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004280:Dobutamine