title: Left pulmonary artery evaluation through transesophageal echocardiography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become increasingly useful in the study of patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the usefulness of TEE in the study of the distal part of the left pulmonary artery (LPA) as well as the influence of this procedure on total echocardiographic exam duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study in two groups of consecutive patients referred for TEE with a one- year interval between evaluation of Group A: 33 patients, 17 male, mean age 54 +/- 24 years, and Group B: 42 patients, 20 male, mean age 48 +/- 27 years (p = NS). The procedure was considered long when it took more than 3 min to evaluate the distal part of the LPA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A we were able to visualize the distal part of the LPA in 24 patients (73%) without significant prolongation of total exam duration in 16 patients (48% of group A). In one of the patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism thrombi were only observed in the distal part of the LPA. In group B we were able to visualize the distal part of the LPA in 36 patients (86%) without significant prolongation of total exam duration in 26 patients (61% of group B).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. Visualization of the distal part of the LPA was possible in more patients, and with TEE time prolongation in less patients, in group B. These differences can be accounted for by the training of the operator in this technique. 2. The importance of visualization of this part of the LPA in guiding treatment in the subset of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism confirms the usefulness of this specific procedure.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia do Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal. dr_jhumberto@netc.pt
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guardado
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cotrim
authors.forename: Otília
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ialá
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Hélder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrageta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*