Infective Endocarditis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Issues - Should Transoesophagal Echocardiography be Performed in all Patients? - Position Pro
Year: 2001
Type: other
Abstract: E chocardiographic demonstration of vegetations in infec-tive endocarditis (IE) was first described in 1973 [1]. There is no doubt about the impact of echocardiography on the diagnosis of IE [2]. But disagreement might arise which diagnostic procedure should be preferred: • Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) followed by trans-oesophageal echocardiography (TEE) according to a se-lected approach or • TEE in every case of suspected infective endocarditis? TEE is semiinvasive and needs a fasting time longer than four hours. The examination is easily performed by trained per-sonnel with minor discomfort and minimal risk for the pa-tient [3]. The patient must be informed concerning possible side effects like hypoxia, bronchospasm, arrhythmias, bleed-ing, vomiting, buckling or intolerance of the probe. The as-sistance of skilled health care personnel for monitoring of
Authors: Michael Petzsch, Reisinger Ec
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1517972780