COMPARISON OF MULTIPLANE AND BIPLANE TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHYIN THE ASSESSMENT OF AORTIC-STENOSIS

The aim of the study was to compare the accuracy of multiplane transes ophageal echocardiography (TEE) with the more conventional biplane tec hnique in the direct assessment of aortic valve area in patients with aortic stenosis. Short-axis images of the aortic valve adequate for me asuring aortic valve area were obtained in all 81 patients studied by multiplane TEE but in only 56 of 64 patients (88%) using the biplane a pproach. The correlation coefficient for aortic valve area determined by multiplane TEE (r = 0.89; SEE = 0.04 cm(2)) was higher (p <0.01) th an biplane TEE (r = 0.74; SEE = 0.06 cm(2)). Correlations were higher for bicuspid valves (multiplane, r = 0.93; biplane, r = 0.75) than tri cuspid valves (multiplane, r = 0.87; biplane, r 0.75). Our study has d emonstrated the superiority of multiplane TEE to both biplane TEE and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in the direct evaluation of aorti c valve area in patients with aortic stenosis. (C) 1997 by Excerpta Me dica, Inc.