A negative transthoracic echocardiogram obviates the need for transesophageal echocardiography in patients with suspected native valve active infective endocarditis

Am J Cardiol. 1996 Jul 1;78(1):101-3. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9149(96)00236-6.

Abstract

We studied 134 patients with suspected native valve infective endocarditis who underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Our data suggest that in patients without prosthetic valves who have a technically adequate negative transthoracic echocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiography is unlikely to be of incremental benefit in diagnosing endocarditis.

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm, Infected / diagnostic imaging*
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity