Transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) evaluation of prosthetic valves.

TEE overcomes many of the imaging constraints associated with transthoracic echocardiography for the assessment of valvular anatomy and function. Additional imaging artifacts and constraints associated with prosthetic valves are minimized or overcome with TEE. As such, TEE allows assessment of prosthetic valve anatomy and function and paraprosthetic anatomy, and serves as the diagnostic imaging modality of choice for patients with suspected prosthesis dysfunction or endocarditis.