Archivos del Instituto de Cardiología de México
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Arch Inst Cardiol Mex · Mar 1994
Comparative Study[Diagnosis of thoracic aorta dissection using transesophageal echocardiography].
During a 36 month period there were 20 patients in our hospital with aortic dissection suspected clinically. All of them were examined with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE); 17 were examined with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE); six with computed tomography (CT) and seven with aortography. Twelve patients required surgery: eight with proximal aortic dissection (Type-A), two with distal dissection (Type-B) and two with aortic aneurysm without dissection. ⋯ The ultrasound tests reveal additional information about complications like aortic regurgitation. Transesophageal echocardiography is the best test to examine patients with aortic dissection in our hospital. Computed tomography, aortography and magnetic resonance imaging have indication only to answer specific doubts.