Assessing the aorta with transesophageal echocardiography - Update on imaging capabilities with today's technology

Over the course of only two decades, transesophageal echocardiography has b ecome widely used in clinical practice because of its unique capacity for s afe and effective imaging. In this article, the author reviews the status a nd diagnostic value of the procedure in assessing the aorta. Some of the mo st commonly found diseases of the aorta are discussed: aortic dissection, a ortogenic embolization, penetrating aortic ulcer, and intramural hematoma.