Role of transesophageal echocardiography in right-sided endocarditis.
Investigations performed over the last few years support the invaluable usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of left-sided endocarditis. Whether this can be applied to right-sided endocarditis remains speculative. Patients at risk of having right-sided endocarditis can be classified into three different and well-defined groups: (1) intravenous drug abusers; (2) patients with pacemakers; and (3) patients with congenital heart diseases. In this article, we review the different value of transesophageal echocardiography in right-sided endocarditis depending on the subset of patients considered.
San Román
J A
JA
Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario de Valladolid, Spain.
Vilacosta
I
I
D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications