ASSESSMENT OF ENDOCARDITIS AND ASSOCIATED COMPLICATIONS WITH TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Over the past quarter century, echocardiography has assumed an importa nt role in the diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis (IE) . Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) offers higher sensitivity tha n transthoracic echocardiography for the detection of infective vegeta tions, prosthetic valve endocarditis, and intracardiac abscesses. TEE is also helpful in assessing the prognosis and response of IE to thera py. Doppler echocardiography from the esophageal window can be used to evaluate valvular regurgitant lesions and other abnormal flow pattern s caused by IE. The authors' approach to using TEE in patients with su spected IE is described.