Impact of contrast-enhanced echocardiography on the diagnostic algorithm of acute aortic dissection.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the usefulness of contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of aortic dissection (AD) and in the assessment of findings necessary for adequate patient management.


RESULTS
Conventional and contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) were performed in 128 consecutive patients with clinically suspected acute AD. Results were validated independently against intraoperative findings in 45 patients and computed tomography information in 83. Sensitivity and specificity of conventional TTE increased after contrast enhancement from 73.7 to 86.8% (P< 0.005) and 71.2 to 90.4% (P < 0.05), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of enhanced TTE were similar to conventional TOE in ascending aorta (93.3 vs. 95.6% and 97.6 vs. 96.4%, respectively) and in the arch (88.4 vs. 93.0% and 95.3 vs. 98.82%, respectively). Contrast-enhanced TOE permitted the location of non-visualized entry tear in seven cases (10.6%), helped to correctly identify the true lumen in six (9.1%), and diagnosed retrograde dissection in nine (13.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast enhancement substantially improves TTE in the diagnosis of AD and should be considered as the initial imaging modality in the emergency setting. Contrast enhancement also has significant value for obtaining critical morphological and haemokinetic information by TOE useful for adequate patient management.
Evangelista
Artur
A
Servei de Cardiologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, P masculine Vall d'Hebron 119, Barcelona 08035, Spain.
Avegliano
Gustavo
G
Aguilar
Rio
R
Cuellar
Hug
H
Igual
Albert
A
González-Alujas
Teresa
T
Rodríguez-Palomares
Jose
J
Mahia
Patricia
P
García-Dorado
David
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media