TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY OF THE AORTA

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become a widely used imagin g technique for evaluating cardiac structure, function, and valvular a natomy. Transesophageal echocardiography has also provided a new persp ective on the thoracic aorta, and there is growing evidence that the t echnique contributes valuable and sometimes unique information about a ortic structure and pathology. Recently introduced multiplane transeso phageal probes have improved visualization of the proximal and transve rse aorta, but few comprehensive discussions of TEE's application in a ortic disease exist. Therefore, we have reviewed the published literat ure and our institutional experience in transesophageal aortic ultraso nography. The available evidence strongly supports the use of TEE in a ortic dissection and atherosclerosis and suggests potential utility in additional diseases of the aorta such as aneurysm, ulceration, trauma , and congenital or inherited malformation.