Transesophageal Echocardiograph Findings in Patients with Cardiovascular Disorders at Al-Thawrah General Hospital, Sana’a, Yemen

Abstract

'a, in the period 2009-2011. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study of 856 patients with suspected cardiovascular disorders and referred for transesophageal echocardiography over a two-year period. Data about patients' sex, their referral site and transesophageal echocardiography findings were collected and analyzed according to the type of cardiovascular disorders, valvular affections and lesions, complications and recommended treatments. Results: Of the 856 patients, 63.4% were females and 36.6% were males. The majority of patients diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography (82.4%) were referred from outpatient departments. Rheumatic heart disease was the most frequent cardiovascular disorder (87.1%), followed by tricuspid valve lesions (62.8%), of which 54% (329/606) were tricuspid regurgitation and 62.6% (114/182) were aortic valve regurgitation. Regarding the type of valvular lesions detected, mitral valve disease was the most frequent, being found in 69.2% (214/309) of patients. Regarding the severity of valvular lesions, 73.1% (19/26) of mitral valve stenosis cases were severe while 83.3% (35/62) of aortic stenosis cases were mild. Moderate pulmonary hypertension was seen mostly secondary to rheumatic heart disease. The majority of cardiovascular disorder patients (33.6%; 284/844) were recommended for balloon mitral valvotomy. Mitral valve surgery was the most frequently performed surgical intervention for affected valves of patients with cardiovascular disorders; being used for the treatment of 31.4% (80/255) of valvular lesions. Conclusions: Transesophageal echocardiography revealed that rheumatic heart disease is the most frequent cardiovascular disorder among Yemeni patients and poses a major health problem. In addition, a high proportion of patients with cardiovascular disorders have valvular lesions of the mild degree that require surgical intervention.