PAs visualization via TEE

Q: Which Pulmonary artery (PA) is relatively harder to visualize in transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)? - select one

A) Left

B) Right

Answer: A

The best level to visualize PAs, including main, right, and (?) left, during TEE is the midesophageal ascending aorta short-axis view. Unfortunately, left PA is relatively hard to visualize due to its proximity to the left main bronchus.

#procedures

#pulmonary

References:

1. Pruszczyk P, Torbicki A, Kuch-Wocial A, Szulc M, Styczynski G, Bochowicz A, Kostrubiec M. Visualization of the central pulmonary arteries by biplane transesophageal echocardiography. Exp Clin Cardiol. 2001 Winter;6(4):206-10. PMID: 20428260; PMCID: PMC2859001.

2. Hausmann D, Daniel WG, Mügge A, Heublein B, Hamm M, Schäfers HJ, Haverich A. Imaging of pulmonary artery and vein anastomoses by transesophageal echocardiography after lung transplantation. Circulation. 1992 Nov;86(5 Suppl):II251-8. PMID: 1424008.