FALSE-NEGATIVE TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN A PATIENT WITH SEVERE MITRAL REGURGITATION

We present a patient with severe mitral regurgitation, diagnosed by ca rdiac catheterization and physical examination but not seen on transes ophageal echocardiography (TEE) after general anesthesia. Subsequently , transthoracic echocardiography was performed with the regurgitant je t visualized. This case illustrates one of the limitations of TEE seco ndary to the use of a biplane probe. The availability and routine use of an omniplane probe may prevent this limitation. A complement of phy sical examination, imaging, and diagnostic tools, as well as thorough understanding of the limitations of each technique, is essential.