title: Transesophageal color Doppler three-dimensional echocardiographic detection of prosthetic aortic valve dehiscence: correlation with surgical findings.
abstract: Three-dimensional echocardiography is being used with increasing frequency to evaluate cardiac function and structure. We present two cases of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis where three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography correlated with the intraoperative surgical findings of prosthetic dehiscence and communication with an abscess cavity. When compared with two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography, three-dimensional echocardiography was more accurate in defining the exact site of dehiscence and communication with an abscess cavity. The echocardiographic images were oriented as a clockface watch to conform to the surgeon's visualization of the aortic root as viewed from the right side of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35249, USA.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mukhtari
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Aaluri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacifico
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D016983:Enterococcus; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery