RETRIEVAL OF A DISTAL RIGHT PULMONARY-ARTERY VEGETATIVE EMBOLUS UNDERTRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC GUIDANCE

Transesophageal echocardiography has proved to be a versatile and valu able diagnostic tool. It has successfully been used to guide valvulopl asties and intracardiac biopsies. However, there is no report in the l iterature that transesophageal echocardiography has previously been us ed to diagnose and guide the subsequent retrieval of a vegetative embo lus from the distal right pulmonary artery. We report a case of tricus pid valve endocarditis with embolization in which transesophageal echo cardiography was used to make the diagnosis and guide the retrieval of the vegetative embolism from the distal right pulmonary artery.