Transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosis of infectious endocarditis

Transthoracic and transesophagal echocardiography (TT EChG and TE EChG) were performed in 43 patients with infectious endocarditis (IE). Sensitivity and specificity of TE EChG in detection of vegetations were higher (92 and 75%, 81 and 50% for TE EChG and TT EChG, respectively). Vegetations and thromboembolism were unrelated. With TE EChG, morphologically verified perforations of valvular cusps were revealed 3 times more frequently than with TT EChG. Along with detection of vegetations and dysfunction of the prosthetic valve, an essential diagnostic marker of IE of the artificial valve is visualization of paraprosthetic fistulas in 2 of 5 patients. Indications for TT and TE EChG and techniques of their performance are described. TT EChG is used in screening for IE. TE EChG is conducted in complications of IE.