The frequency of acquisition and quality of images obtained by transesophageal echocardiography: a prospective study of 100 consecutive cases.

Although transesophageal echocardiography is capable of generating detailed images of the heart and aorta, the quality of these images and the frequency of their acquisition has not been previously defined. We performed monoplane transesophageal echocardiograms in 100 consecutive patients to determine the quality and frequency of acquisition of 10 standard, transverse views of the heart and aorta. Each image was graded for quality by ascribing a value from 0 (poor quality or not obtained) to 3 (excellent quality). The effect of age on image acquisition and quality was determined for patients less than or equal to 60 years (n = 54) versus greater than 60 years old (n = 46). For the 10 image planes, the average image quality score and the frequency of image acquisition (%) was (1) 2.23 and 100% for the four-chamber view, (2) 1.96 and 98% for the right ventricular inflow view and coronary sinus, (3) 2.17 and 99% for the five-chamber view, (4) 1.80 and 84% for the aortic valve short axis, (5) 1.54 and 82% for the mitral valve short axis, (6) 1.84 and 91% for the mid-left ventricular short axis, (7) 1.02 and 59% for the left ventricular apical short axis, (8) 1.79 and 93% for the ascending aorta, (9) 1.23 and 77% for the aortic arch, and (10) 1.88 and 92% for the descending thoracic aorta view. Ascending aorta and aortic valve short-axis views were obtained with a significantly higher frequency in patients less than or equal to 60 years old.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)