Argentine Registry of Transesophageal Echocardiography

pp 397-402

Abstract

Background: There is currently no data regarding the utilization of transesophageal echocardiography in Argentina.

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the complication rate of transesophageal echocardiography in our country.Other objectives were to identify the characteristics of the laboratories, the operators’ training level, the rate of sedation and/oranesthesia and the main reasons for its request, and to analyze the suitability of the indications and the contribution of the method to the clinical management of patients.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter registry was conducted of all the transesophageal echocardiographies performed in 46 centers in Argentina between November 2016 and September 2018.

Results: A total of 2,562 transesophageal echocardiograms were analyzed. Patients’ mean age was 61.4 (±16) years and 61% were men. Mean study duration was 14.5 minutes (±11). Ambulatory echocardiograms constituted 50.5% of cases. The rate of sedation was 28.7% and 8.4% were performed under anesthesia. The most frequent indications were: endocarditis 22.7%, embolic source 21.5%, heart valve disease 20.3% and atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter 17.2%. Minor complications were registered in 30 cases (1.17%)
and respiratory or cardiovascular complications in 25 studies (0.98%). There was 1 case of gastric mucosal lesion (0.039%) without perforation. Clinically significant findings were reported in 1,296 studies (50.6%), additional information to transthoracic echocardiography was provided in 1,600 cases (62.5%), unsuspected findings were described in 282 studies (11%), and 82.7% of the studies had an adequate indication.

Conclusions: This is the first multicenter registry on transesophageal echocardiography in our country. The results highlight a high rate of adequate indication, a considerable diagnostic yield and low complication rate.