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P Gueret

Publications and source records attributed to P Gueret.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Dobutamine hemodynamics for aortic stenosis with left ventricular dysfunction].

Patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction have a poor short-term prognosis. In this setting, the decrease in transaortic gradients has an independent prognostic value for operative risk and long-term outcome. The 2 main issues for these patients are: (1) The real severity of AS; (2) How to stratify operative risk and evaluate long-term prognosis. Dobutamine Hemodynamics has the potential to address these issues. In case of relative AS, valve area is increased by dobutamine (final valve area > 1.2 cm2 with a mean pressure gradient <30 mmHg); on the basis of published data, medical treatment is justified in this case. Left ventricular contractile reserve is defined an increase in stroke volume, by 20% or more, under dobutamine. Operative risk is between 5 and 11% in case of LV contractile reserve and long-term outcome is improved by surgery in this case. In contrast, operative risk varies from 30 to 60% in case of exhausted reserve; this risk is also determined by other factors such as the presence of coronary artery disease and associated comorbidities. All these parameters are factored into risk-benefit analysis in order to determine the best therapeutic approach for each patient.

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗
PubMed2004

[Localization of mitral valve prolapse zones with multiplane transesophageal echocardiography].

CONTEXT: There are few literature data on the localization and extent of mitral valve prolapse zones with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess a standardized imaging technique for the localization and extent determination of prolapse zones, based on 3 easily reproducible views with multiplane TEE. METHODS: Seventy patients with severe mitral regurgitation due to valve prolapse requiring a multiplane TEE prior to surgery (valve repair or replacement) have been retrospectively assessed. Data of TEE on the localization and extent of prolapse zones have been confronted to per-operative anatomical observations (gold standard). RESULTS: The sensitivity of TEE for the identification of isolated P2 prolapse, prolapse with commisural extension, isolated rupture of the posterior commisure and bi-valvular prolapses were respectively at 96%, 88%, 86% and 80%. The corresponding specificities were from 98% to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a standardized technique with the use of 3 easily reproducible incidences with multiplane TEE allows a precise definition of the localization and extent of mitral valve prolapse zones, in order to potentially indicate valve repair.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Management and short-term outcome of diabetic patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction: results of a nationwide French survey.

OBJECTIVES: To compare management and short-term outcome of diabetic and non-diabetic patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: This was a prospective epidemiological survey. All patients admitted in coronary care units in France in November 2000 for confirmed acute myocardial infarction were eligible to enter the study. RESULTS: Of the 2320 patients recruited from 369 centers, 487 were diabetic (21%). Compared to non-diabetic patients, diabetic patients were 5 years older, more often female, obese and hypertensive; they had more often a history of cardiovascular disease; they had a lower ejection fraction and worse Killip class. Reperfusion therapy was less frequent among diabetic patients (39% versus 51%; p=0.0001), as was the use of beta-blockers (61% versus 72%; p=0.0001), aspirin (83% versus 89%; p=0.0001) and statins (52% versus 60%; p=0.001) during hospitalization. Conversely, the use of ACE-inhibitors was more frequent (54% versus 44%; p=0.0001). 58% of diabetic patients received insulin during hospitalization. Twenty-eight-day mortality was 13.1% in diabetic patients and 7.0% in non-diabetic patients (risk ratio: 1.87; p=0.001). Diabetes remained associated with increased mortality after adjustment for relevant risk factors including age and ejection fraction (risk ratio: 1.51; p=0.07). In patients treated with antidiabetic drugs (chiefly sulfonylureas) before admission, 28-day mortality was 10.4% compared with 19.9% in diabetic patients on diet alone or untreated (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Despite higher cardiovascular risk and worse prognosis, in-hospital management of diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction remains sub-optimal. Patients previously treated with antidiabetic drugs including sulfonylureas had a better prognosis than untreated diabetic patients.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2001

Aortic stenosis with severe left ventricular dysfunction and low transvalvular pressure gradients: risk stratification by low-dose dobutamine echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess risk stratification by using dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. BACKGROUND: Few data are available on risk stratification for valve replacement in patients with AS, LV dysfunction and low transvalvular gradients. METHODS: Low-dose DSE was performed in 45 patients (16 women and 29 men; median [quartile range] age in years: 75 [69 to 79]; left ventricular ejection fraction: 0.29 [0.23 to 0.32]; aortic valve area [cm2]: 0.7 [0.5 to 0.8]; mean transaortic gradient [mm Hg]: 26 [21 to 33]). Patients were classified into two groups: group I (n = 32, LV contractile reserve on DSE) and group II (n = 13, no contractile reserve). Valve replacement was performed in 24 and 6 patients in groups I and II, respectively. RESULTS: Perioperative mortality was 8% in group I and 50% in group II (p = 0.014). Survival at five years after the operation was 88% in group I. Compared with medical therapy, valve surgery was associated with better long-term survival in group I (hazard ratio for death [HR-D] 0.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.002 to 0.49) and reduced survival in group II (HR-D 19.6, 95% CI 2.7 to 142). The effect of valve surgery on survival remained significant in both groups after adjustment for age, diabetes, respiratory disease and hypertension. Medical therapy had the same effect in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AS, LV dysfunction and low transvalvular gradients, contractile reserve on DSE is associated with a low operative risk and good long-term prognosis after valve surgery. In contrast, operative mortality remains high in the absence of contractile reserve.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Altered baroreflex gain during voluntary breathing in chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the behavior of the baroreflex (BR) gain in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients using the spectral analysis method during application of a forcing stimulus, i.e. respiration. METHODS: Simultaneous RR interval and arterial pressure fluctuation recordings were obtained during two random-order periods of voluntary paced-breathing (0.15 Hz and 0.25 Hz) in seven patients with moderate CHF (NYHA class II/III; EF, 30+/-9%; peak VO(2), 18+/-5 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) and six age-matched controls. BR gain was assessed in the time (sequential method) and frequency (cross-spectral gain in the low and high frequency) domains. RESULTS: Slower breathing was associated with a BR gain decrease in CHF patients whereas a BR gain increase was evidenced in controls (BR gain: 6+/-5 ms mmHg(-1) at 0.25 Hz vs. 4+/-3 ms mmHg(-1) at 0.15 Hz, P<0.05 in CHF; BR gain: 12+/-7 ms mmHg(-1) at 0.25 Hz vs. 15+/-7 ms mmHg(-1) at 0.15 Hz, P<0.05 in controls). CONCLUSIONS: Voluntary breathing, which involves cortical centers in the brain, had major effects on cardiovascular system controller gain in CHF patients, indicating an impairment of the central neural regulation of the autonomic outflow.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Prediction of functional recovery of viable myocardium after delayed revascularization in postinfarction patients: accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography and influence of long-term vessel patency.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) for predicting recovery of viable myocardium after revascularization with cineangiography as a gold standard for left ventricular (LV) function. We studied the influence of late vessel reocclusion on regional LV function. BACKGROUND: Dobutamine stress echocardiography is a well established evaluation method for myocardial viability assessment. In previous studies the reference method for assessing LV recovery was echocardiography, long-term vessel patency has not been systematically addressed. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and residual stenosis of the infarct related artery (IRA) underwent DSE (mean +/- standard deviation) 21 +/- 12 days after AMI to evaluate myocardial viability. Revascularization of the IRA was performed in 54 patients by angioplasty (n = 43) or bypass grafting (n = 11). Coronary angiography and LV cineangiography were repeated at four months to assess LV function and IRA patency. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of DSE for predicting myocardial recovery after revascularization were 83% and 82%. In the case of late IRA patency, specificity increased to 95%, whereas sensitivity remained unchanged. In the 16 patients with myocardial viability and late IRA patency, echocardiographic wall motion score index decreased after revascularization from 1.83 +/- 0.15 to 1.36 +/- 0.17 (p = 0.0001), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from 0.52 +/- 0.06 to 0.57 +/- 0.06 (p = 0.0004), whereas in five patients, reocclusion of the IRA prevented improvement of segmental or global LV function despite initially viable myocardium. CONCLUSIONS: Dobutamine stress echocardiography is reliable to predict recovery of viable myocardium after revascularization in postinfarction patients. Late reocclusion of the IRA may prevent LV recovery and influence the accuracy of DSE.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Coronary blood flow reserve and wall motion recovery in patients undergoing angioplasty for myocardial infarction.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between coronary flow reserve and the recovery of wall motion contractility in patients with recent myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nineteen patients (55 +/- 8 years) undergoing balloon angioplasty for recent myocardial infarction were studied. After angioplasty, coronary flow reserve was lower in the infarct-related artery than in a reference artery, 2.2 +/- 0.6 and 2.8 +/- 0.7, respectively, P < 0.05. There was no immediate correlation between coronary blood flow reserve measured after angioplasty and wall motion index. There was a negative correlation between coronary flow reserve and the number of necrotic segments (r = -0.43; P0.006). At the 4 month control angiogram, there was a significant increase in both left ventricular ejection fraction (59 +/- 14% vs 51 +/- 13%; P < 0.05) and wall motion index (-0.63 +/- 1.2 vs -1.94 +/- 0.9 units SD, P = 0.005). In patients in whom wall motion improved (> 1 unit SD), the immediate coronary flow reserve was higher (P < 0.05) than in patients without improved wall motion. In this group, the increase in wall motion index was correlated to the coronary blood flow reserve (r = 0.55; P < 0.02). CONCLUSION: These data show that after myocardial infarction, coronary flow reserve is associated with myocardial viability.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Semi-automatic measurement of the left ventricular mass from tomodensitometric traces of the left ventricle].

To improve the standardisation and reproductibility of echocardiographic left ventricular mass (LVM) measurements we developed a specific software for automated measurements of LV diameter (EDD) and wall thickness (ST&PWT) from M mode recordings on SVHS videotapes using a dedicated computer system lô 3.3 (lôDP, Paris, France). Images are digitalised into 640 x 580 pixels with 256 grey levels. The algorithm computes the averages grey-level over an area of 10 pixels width based on the QRS on ECG and the profile obtained is analysed in order to estimate the position of wall interfaces with 2 choices: PENN or ASE conventions. We compared lô results performed twice at 1 week interval (lô 1&2) to conventional (Man) measurement (PENN convention) by a trained echocardiographist in 50 echos performed in hypertensives. Results are mean +/- SD, no significant difference was found between lô 3.3 and Man measurements with closed correlations. The reproductibility of the measurements is significatively improved by the automated procedure as well as the time to recover the results.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

[Myocardial viability. Myocardial viability post-infarct: contribution of dobutamine-echography].

ROUTINE EXPLORATION: Echocardiography during dopamine perfusion has been widely proven as an effective tool for determining myocardial viability. Dobutamine has marketing authorization in France for stress-echocardiography and is widely used in clinical practice outside research protocols. The exploration must however be conducted within an appropriately equipped cardiac intensive care unit. Stress-echocardiography has certain advantages over isotropic techniques, in terms of equipment costs, examination time and exposure to isotopes. POST-INFARCTION: Dobutamine-echocardiography enables detection of viable myocardium within the infarct zone, evaluates the degree of residual ischemia in the infarct zone and provides information on prognosis. It would not however be reasonable to perform stress-echocardiography as a first line exploration after infarction. International guidelines recommend a sub-maximal ECG exercise test prior to coronarography. The contribution of stress-echocardiography after infarction is its ability to give precise information on myocardial viability and residual ischemia in one or more territories to compare with coronary lesions, thus allowing indication for revascularization. CHRONIC ISCHEMIC CARDIOPATHY: Dobutamine-echocardiography can be used to detect hibernating myocardium in patients with chronic ischemic cardiopathy. In this indication, the sensitivity of stress-echocardiography is slightly lower than thallium scintigraphy, but its specificity and positive predictive values are higher. The best predictive value is obtained with bimodal dobutamine-echocardiography: improve-med thickening at low doses and a degradation at high dose is predictive of functional improvement after revascularization in 72% of the cases. In more severe cases with ejection fraction < 35%, improvement in hibernating myocardium after revascularization leads to a significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction.

Cardiotonic Agents↗
PubMed1998

Effects of the 14F hemopump on coronary hemodynamics in patients undergoing high-risk coronary angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: The influence of the 14F Hemopump on coronary hemodynamics in patients with coronary artery disease remains unknown. METHODS: Systemic and coronary hemodynamic measurements were obtained in eight patients among 13 who underwent high-risk coronary angioplasty in our institution with the support of the Hemopump. Coronary blood flow velocity was measured with a 0.014-inch Doppler-tipped guide wire both proximal and distal to the target lesion. RESULTS: Angioplasty decreases the diameter coronary stenosis from 76% +/- 21% to 22% +/- 11%. Hemopump support did not change systemic hemodynamics either before or after angioplasty. During angioplasty Hemopump support decreased the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure from 23.5 +/- 8.5 mm Hg to 18.6 +/- 7 mm Hg (p = 0.013). No changes in either heart rate, mean and systolic aortic pressures, and cardiac index were observed throughout the procedure. After successful angioplasty was performed, the ratio of proximal to distal flow velocity decreased from 2.11 +/- 1 to 1.65 +/- 0.2 (p = 0.05). However, Hemopump did not affect absolute coronary blood flow velocities or the phasic pattern of flow velocities (diastolic systolic velocity ratio, diastolic and systolic velocity integrals) either in proximal or distal locations either before or after angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that although the 14F Hemopump produces unloading of the left ventricle, it does not importantly alter coronary hemodynamics when systemic hemodynamics are stable. Whether the Hemopump would maintain or improve coronary blood flow in compromised patients remains to be determined.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Leiden factor V mutation in four patients with small bowel infarctions.

The Leiden factor V mutation is observed in 20% of unexplained lower limb venous thromboses and involves substitution of the arginine residue at position 506 by glutamine (R506Q). It is known to decrease the anticoagulant activity of activated protein C. This case report describes 4 cases of small bowel infarction (SBI) associated with the presence of this mutation. Two cases of arterial and 2 cases of venous SBI were observed. Extensive assessment excluded the usual causes of SBI and plasma hypercoagulation syndrome (antithrombin III, protein C, and protein S deficiency and myeloproliferative syndrome). An abnormal resistance to activated protein C was observed. Molecular analysis consisting of polymerase chain reaction amplification and digestion with MnlI showed that 2 patients were heterozygous and 2 were homozygous for the R506Q mutation. Despite familial history of thrombosis in only 1 patient, first- and second-degree relatives of 2 patients also had the presence of the mutation. Examination for the presence of abnormal resistance to activated protein C should be part of the etiological assessment of SBI. Its presence may warrant consideration of long-term anticoagulant therapy, especially for patients with shortened small bowel who are treated by home parenteral nutrition with deep venous access.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Alteration of left ventricular diastolic function during coronary angioplasty-induced ischemia: a color M-mode Doppler study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of ischemia on diastolic function by analyzing flow propagation velocity with color M-mode Doppler echocardigraphy. BACKGROUND: Color M-mode Doppler echocardiography has been proposed as a method of assessing left ventricular filling. METHODS: Color M-mode Doppler echocardiography and measurement of hemodynamic data were performed simultaneously at baseline and during angioplasty-induced ischemia. Tau was compared with flow propagation velocity. Late diastolic indexes, left ventricular pressure and flow cessation time were also investigated. RESULTS: During ischemia, left ventricular relaxation rate (tau) increased, whereas flow propagation velocity decreased, from (mean +/- SD) 46.8 +/- 10 ms to 72.6 +/- 18.3 ms and from 59.8 +/- 15.8 cm/s to 30 +/- 8 cm/s, respectively (all p < 0.0001). The maximal slowing of flow propagation velocity was observed 20 to 30 s after the beginning of the inflation, coexisting with a notch on the ascending limb of the negative rate of rise of the left ventricular pressure (dP/dt) curve. Flow propagation velocity was correlated with tau both at baseline (r = 0.53, p < 0.05) and during inflation (r = 0.53, p < 0.03). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased during ischemia from 13.5 +/- 8 mm Hg at baseline to 27.5 +/- 7 mm Hg, while a premature cessation of the entering flow occurred -13.8 +/- 23 ms before the next Q wave onset, compared with 4.5 +/- 19.6 ms after the Q wave onset at baseline (all p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of flow propagation velocity showed that early filling is highly dependent on left ventricular relaxation rate, particularly through the phenomenon of asynchrony. During ischemia, the premature cessation of late filling is associated with increased diastolic pressures.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1996

Endogenous sodium-potassium-chloride cotransport inhibitor in congestive heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the relation, if any, between fluid overload in congestive heart failure (CHF) and a newly discovered endogenous natriuretic factor acting like loop diuretic drugs: cotransport inhibitory factor (CIF). BACKGROUND: The humoral mechanisms regulating volume overload in CHF are not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated whether there is a role for CIF in this pathologic condition. METHODS: Plasma and urinary CIF levels were investigated in 23 patients with chronic CHF and compared with changes in plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Twelve patients without CHF served as control subjects. RESULTS: CHF was associated with a highly significant threefold increase in both plasma CIF levels (mean +/- SD 7.10 +/- 3.01 vs. 2.28 +/- 0.92 U/ml, p < 0.0001) and urinary CIF excretion (7,849 +/- 3,600 vs. 2,351 +/- 1,297 U/day, p < 0.0001) with respect to patients without CHF. CIF increased as a function of impairment in left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.703, p < 0.0001) and the severity of clinical status. Plasma ANP was also increased in patients with CHF, although to a lesser extent (68%, p = 0.0501) than plasma CIF, and was also significantly correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.552, p = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma and urinary CIF activities were strongly and very significantly increased in chronic CHF. In addition to ANP, this long-term natriuretic agent may be of potential importance in reducing fluid overload in CHF.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effect of delayed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of occluded coronary arteries after acute myocardial infarction.

Whether angioplasty of occluded vessels after myocardial infarction may have beneficial effects on left ventricular function remains unknown. Patients with a first myocardial infarction and thrombolytic therapy who had an occluded infarct-related vessel at delayed coronary angiography were referred systematically for an elective coronary angioplasty performed between 3 and 4 weeks after the myocardial infarction. All patients underwent stress-redistribution-reinjection thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography for myocardial viability assessment. Prior angioplasty, a quantitative evaluation of global and regional left ventricular function, was performed. The study group consisted of 38 patients (aged 57 +/- 10 years); 18 had anterior wall infarctions and 20 inferior wall infarctions, but before angioplasty 3 had a patent artery and were excluded. Angioplasty was successful in 30 patients. At follow-up 13 patients (43%) had an occluded coronary artery. In contrast with patients with an occluded coronary artery at follow-up, those with a patent coronary artery had no left ventricular enlargement and had an improvement in both left ventricular ejection fraction (from 48 +/- 9% to 52 +/- 9.8%, p = 0.002) and regional wall motion index (delta = +0.95 SD, p <0.01). In patients with a patent vessel at follow-up, there was a positive correlation between the number of myocardial viable segments and improvement of the infarct zone wall motion (r = 0.52; p = 0.035), and the number of necrotic segments at baseline was positively correlated to the 4-month changes in end-diastolic volume indexes (r = 0.6; p = 0.04). Thus, elective revascularization of occluded coronary arteries with viable myocardium after myocardial infarction improves left ventricular function and lessens remodeling if the artery remains patent during follow-up.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Usefulness of redistribution images in viability detection after acute myocardial infarction.

We undertook this study to evaluate the importance of redistribution images in thallium 201 single-photon emission computed tomography (Tl-201 SPECT) assessment of myocardial viability after acute myocardial infarction. Stress-redistribution-reinjection Tl-201 SPECT was performed in 55 consecutive patients with recent (within 1 month) acute myocardial infarction. The myocardium was divided into 16 segments and activity assessed visually with a score from 0 to 3 on stress-redistribution and stress-reinjection images. A defect was considered moderate if the stress score was 2 and severe if the stress score was 0 or 1. All moderate defects were considered viable, regardless of score on redistribution or reinjection images. Severe defects were considered viable if they were reversible (improvement of 1 score) on redistribution or reinjection images. Stress-redistribution and stress-reinjection images were visually analyzed and compared in terms of viability classification. On visual analysis, 461 segments (52%) were abnormal. One hundred eleven stress defects were moderate; of these, 28 were reversible on reinjection images only and 15 on redistribution images only. However, all of these segments were viable, regardless of the analysis chosen. Of 350 severe stress defects, 48 were reversible on reinjection and irreversible on redistribution images, and 4 were reversible on redistribution and irreversible on reinjection images. Therefore, in viability assessment, 48 segments were misclassified with stress-redistribution analysis, whereas only 4 segments were misclassified using stress-reinjection analysis. Although the usefulness of Tl-201 reinjection imaging is confirmed, redistribution images seem to be of little interest in post-myocardial infarction viability assessment.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Transesophageal echocardiography for the diagnosis and management of nonobstructive thrombosis of mechanical mitral valve prosthesis.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of a mechanical mitral valve prosthesis thrombosis is currently made with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and occasionally with fluoroscopy. However, identifying a thrombus on a valve prosthesis may be difficult, especially if the thrombus is nonobstructive. To prospectively define the role of transesophageal echocardiography for identification of nonobstructive thrombi, we studied a series of patients in whom the prosthetic valve was considered to function normally on clinical examination and transthoracic echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred fourteen consecutive patients with mechanical mitral valve prosthesis were investigated by both transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography. These examinations were performed for recent systemic emboli (15 patients), fever of unknown etiology (11 patients), routine postoperative evaluation (56 patients), and other reasons (32 patients). Based on transthoracic echo diagnosis, all prostheses were considered normal. Yet, in 20 patients transesophageal echocardiography revealed the presence of a 2- to 15-mm-long mobile thrombus localized on the atrial surface of the prosthesis. When compared with the remaining 94 patients with no visible thrombi, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of incidence of atrial fibrillation (65% versus 52%), left atrial size (48 +/- 9 versus 51 +/- 13 mm), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (49 +/- 10 versus 51 +/- 13 mm) and fractional shortening (28 +/- 9% versus 31 +/- 10%), presence of spontaneous contrast to the left atrium (40% versus 41%), transprosthetic mean pressure gradient (4.0 +/- 1.4 versus 3.9 +/- 1.5 mm Hg), or the type of prosthesis used. After we discovered a nonobstructive thrombosis, patients were treated with heparin (n = 9) or oral anticoagulation (n = 11). The presence of a localized thrombus was confirmed in 3 patients who were operated on. In the present study, evolution appeared to depend on thrombus size: of 14 patients exhibiting a small (< 5 mm) thrombus, 10 had an uneventful course, whereas 5 of 6 patients with a large (> or = 5 mm) thrombus developed complications or died. CONCLUSIONS: Transesophageal echocardiography appears to be a reliable method to diagnose thrombi on a mechanical mitral valve prosthesis, even when transthoracic Doppler echocardiographic parameters appear to be normal. Transesophageal echo assessment of thrombus size may be helpful in deciding whether a patient with mitral prosthesis should be treated by anticoagulation, thrombolysis, or valve rereplacement.

Adult↗