Copyright © 2004, The European Society of Cardiology
Mitral paraprosthetic leak diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography through nasal way
aII Division of Cardiology, Institute of Heart and Great Vessels, Attilio Reale, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy
bDivision of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute of Heart and Great Vessels, Attilio Reale, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy
Received 21 July 2004; received in revised form 12 October 2004; accepted after revision 25 October 2004.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 6 4997 0163; fax: +39 6 4997 2410. E-mail: demetrio.tallarico@uniroma1.it
| Abstract |
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Paraprosthetic leaks are a postoperatively complication recurring with a frequency from 15 to 30%, and mostly in the mitral than in the aortic position. Transthoracic echocardiography can suspect prosthesis valve dysfunction, but for both diagnosis and evaluation of the paraprosthetic dysfunction severity, transesophageal study is required. In this report a mitral paraprosthetic dehiscence was diagnosed using a miniaturized, 10 F, monoplane probe inserted through nasal way. This technique, that do not require topical and general anesthesia, appears to be well tolerated providing an accurate and more comfortable examination.
Keywords: AcuNav; Monoplane probe; Paraprosthetic leak; Transesophageal echocardiography; Transnasal