Transthoracic contrast echocardiographic detection of ascending aortic dissection.
BACKGROUND
Ascending aortic dissection is highly lethal if left untreated. Therefore rapid accurate diagnosis is necessary. Diagnosis can be made with imaging modalities that use contrast agents to delineate anatomy reliably. Transthoracic echocardiography has not routinely been diagnostically useful because of the inability in clearly visualizing the ascending aorta.


RESULTS
We describe a case in which transthoracic echocardiography with an echocardiographic contrast agent provided diagnostic information regarding an acute ascending aortic dissection, delineating both the true and false lumens.


CONCLUSIONS
Transthoracic echocardiography combined with an echocardiographic contrast agent can be useful in detecting an ascending aortic dissection.
McRee
D
D
Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.
Matsuda
M
M
Stratton
J
J
Martin
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; C099458:FS 069; D005466:Fluorocarbons