Intracardiac echocardiography during simulated aortic and mitral balloon valvuloplasty: In vivo experimental studies

Abstract The feasibility of intracardiac echocardiography with a low-frequency transducer to assess catheter position and detect complications during experimental aortic and mitral balloon valvuloplasty was studied in 10 dogs. Intracardiac echocardiography was performed with a transesophageal echocardiographic probe placeb in the right atrium. In all instances high-quality images of cardiac structures were obtained. The guide wire and balloon catheter were clearly seen as they crossed the valves. With inflation the balloon was seen as a hyperechoic structure. Doppler echocardiography documented aortic regurgitation after inflations. Acute pericardial effusion was instantly detected. It is concluded that intracardiac echocardiography is a potentially useful technique for cardiac imaging, assessing wire and balloon catheter position, evaluating valvular regurgitation, and instantly detecting acute pericardial effusion. Further research in humans with low-frequency, catheter-based transducers needs to be performed.