• A Evangelista, M T González-Alujas, H García del Castillo, I Anivarro, J Angel, A Salas, and J Soler-Soler.
• Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona.
• Rev Esp Cardiol. 1993 Dec 1; 46 (12): 805-9.

Introduction And ObjectiveEighty-two patients with suspected aortic dissection were studied to assess the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of this entity.MethodsAll patients underwent transesophageal echocardiogram. The diagnosis of aortic dissection was established in 46 patients by other diagnostic procedures including angiography and computed tomography, surgery and necropsy.ResultsThe sensitivity and specificity of transesophageal echocardiography were 98% and 97%, respectively. By computed tomography, sensitivity was 92% and specificity 88%. By angiography, sensitivity and specificity were 97% and 93%, respectively. In the diagnosis of the dissection type, transesophageal echocardiography classified correctly in 98%, computed tomography in 89% and angiography 97% of cases. Transesophageal echocardiography visualized the tear in 82% of cases, and angiography in 53%.ConclusionsTransesophageal echocardiography provides rapid, accurate diagnosis of aortic dissection and permits the initiation of appropriate treatment. Angiography is indicated in non-conclusive cases or those which supra-aortic involvement clinically suspected.

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