Transesophageal echocardiography for detection of cardiac diseases in patients with retinal artery occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for detection of cardiac diseases in patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO).


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 22 consecutive patients with acute RAO. The patients had been evaluated by conventional studies, including transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE.


RESULTS
TEE findings were abnormal in 13 (59%) of the 22 patients. The findings revealed a decrease of flow velocity in the left atrial appendage (n=7), atrial septal aneurysm (n=4), patent foramen ovale (n=2), spontaneous echo contrast (n=1), ascending aortic plaque (n=1) and left atrial thrombus (n=1). Evaluations, including TEE, disclosed cardiac abnormalities in 16 (73%) of these 22 patients. However, excluding the analysis by TEE, cardiac abnormalities were revealed in only 6 (27%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with RAO, TEE may be a useful examination for detecting potential cardiac diseases.
Inatomi
Y
Y
Stroke Center, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Chikami.
Hino
H
H
Hashimoto
Y
Y
Furuyoshi
N
N
Misumi
I
I
Uchino
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies