Review of complications in a series of patients with known gastro-esophageal varices undergoing transesophageal echocardiography.
BACKGROUND
The presence of gastroesophageal varices is considered a relative contraindication to performing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), but this is based on expert opinion, and there is limited data to support this recommendation. The aim of this study was to review the complications and benefit of performing TEE in patients with known gastroesophageal varices.


METHODS
Fourteen patients with known esophageal varices who underwent TEE from 1997 to 2007 were identified. Patients' charts were reviewed for procedure-related complications as well as benefit in performing TEE.


RESULTS
The 14 patients had an average age of 50.4 years. Six patients had grade 2 esophageal varices at the time of TEE. The most common etiology of portal hypertension was alcoholic liver disease (11 of 14), and the most common indication for TEE was to rule out endocarditis (11 of 14). There were no major bleeding or other complications noted. All 14 procedures were able to provide the clinical information requested.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the presence of known esophageal varices was previously thought to be a contraindication to performing TEE, the results of this study show that TEE without transgastric views can be performed without serious complications in patients with grade 1 or 2 esophageal varices who have not experienced recent variceal hemorrhages. Additionally, there is a definite benefit, as all of the clinical questions were successfully answered.
Spier
Bret J
BJ
Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Larue
Shane J
SJ
Teelin
Thomas C
TC
Leff
Jared A
JA
Swize
Lisa R
LR
Borkan
Samantha H
SH
Satyapriya
Ajay
A
Rahko
Peter S
PS
Pfau
Patrick R
PR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000075202:Contraindications; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment