The added importance of transesophageal echocardiography in imaging regurgitation through prosthetic valves

Abstract

Imaging of flow through prosthetic valves is possible and may be of great help in assessing the proper working status of these valves. Since color flow imaging is so successful in detecting insufficiency from native valves, it might be simply assumed that it is as useful for assessment of prosthetic valve dysfunction. Given an understanding of certain limitations of ultrasound, prosthetic valvular function can be assessed to a highly useful degree. Understanding of these concepts also highlights the tremendous importance of transesophageal echocardiography for imaging of regurgitation through prosthetic valves.