Transesophageal Echocardiographic Identification of Bilateral Vertebral Artery Ostial Stenosis

Abstract

We describe the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in correctly diagnosing severe ostial stenosis of both the left and right vertebral arteries in an adult patient. Although transesophageal echocardiography has been previously used to identify left vertebral artery stenosis, to our knowledge this study represents the first demonstration of its usefulness in detecting bilateral vertebral artery ostial stenosis.

Transesophageal and Transpharyngeal Ultrasound Demonstration of Reversed Diastolic Flow in Aortic Arch Branches and Neck Vessels in Severe Aortic Regurgitation

“…The technique has also been utilized in the assessment of atherosclerotic plaques and stenosis of subclavian, common carotid, internal carotid, and proximal vertebral arteries as well as evaluation of the patency of the left internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery. In addition, a carotid body paraganglioma was recently visualized by TPU 8‐15 . The present study highlights the potential utility of this approach in complementing other TEE findings in diagnosing torrential AR.…”