title: A negative transthoracic echocardiogram obviates the need for transesophageal echocardiography in patients with suspected native valve active infective endocarditis.
abstract: We studied 134 patients with suspected native valve infective endocarditis who underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Our data suggest that in patients without prosthetic valves who have a technically adequate negative transthoracic echocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiography is unlikely to be of incremental benefit in diagnosing endocarditis.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Irani
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Grayburn
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Afridi
mesh_terms: D000785:Aneurysm, Infected / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity