[Echocardiography for aortic diseases].
In proportion to the increase of the population at risk and to the expanding operative indication owing to improvement of operative outcome, the number of aortic surgeries has been steadily increasing. As multiple choices of treatment have been available, the demand level for diagnostic imaging technique is getting higher. Among several diagnostic imaging modalities for aortic diseases, echocardiography is essential as a real-time imaging device which can be performed easily at bed-side, non-invasively and repetitively. First, transcutaneous echocardiography covers the heart, the aortic root, the ascending aorta and the upper abdomen. Second, transesophageal echocardiography is good at close observation of the heart, the aortic root and the descending aorta. Third, intraoperative direct scan visualizes the whole area of the aorta exposed in the operation. Adequate combination of these 3 is quite useful for making diagnosis, understanding hemodynamics and building operative strategy for aortic diseases, especially acute aortic dissection. Cervical echocardiography and intra-vascular echocardiography play a supportive role. The amount of information obtained from echocardiography depends on the examiner's knowledge and ability. A cardiothoracic surgeon should, therefore, be proficient enough to work out as much data as one wants from this modality.
Nawata
Kan
K
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional