ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACQU IRED THORACIC AORTIC DISEASE

The diagnosis and follow-up of acquired thoracic aortic disease have g reatly improved with advances in transthoracic and transoesophageal ec hocardiographic techniques. In emergency situations, transoesophageal echocardiography is the key diagnostic investigation for dissection, s ignificantly speeding up surgical referral. Atherosclerosis of the aor ta is the second clinical situation in which transoesophageal echocard iography confirms its superiority over other imaging techniques for th e recognition of intra-aortic debris carrying a high embolic risk.