Summary:
Introduction: The tranesophageal echocardiographic imaging is widely used in
the clinical practice with recognised diagnostic value and wide indications of
application.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate appropriateness of transesophageal
echocardiographic imaging in the greek polulation.
Material and Method: The study was carried out at the echocardiographic
laboratory of a university hospital in Athens, Greece. 300 patients were
included in a randomized study. The study was conducted from November 2013 to
May 2014. The transesophageal echocardiographic studies were classified
according to the American College of Cardiology Foundation 2011 Appropriate Use
Criteria. For computations IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences® version
18.0 was used. P values less than 0,05 were regarded as significant (p 0,05).
Results: The patients’ mean age was 57,5 years (± 16,2). 59,2% of them were
male (N=178/ 300).
The sample of the study indicated an increasing number of heart diseases cases,
since nearly one third of this sample was characterised by the present of at
least one factor of danger.A percentage of 91,3% of the pantients were
appropriate for this particular examination, 2,0% were uncertain and 6,7% were
unsuitable (N=274,6 and 20, respectively)
From the 300 patients who were examined by the transesophageal
echocardiographic, 251 of them showed findings concerning the first clinical
question(83,7%). With the examination of x2, this percentage was significantly
bigger (statistically) in the category of appropriate patients in comparison
with the uncertain appropriateness or completely unsuitable patients (89,4%
,35,0% ,50 ,0%,p<0,001 respectively).
Concerning the association between the appropriateness and the presence of
clinical findings in predefined groups, it is suggested that a significant
association was found in female ( p=0,001), in patients equal or less than 50
years of age, in non-smokers (p=0,027) and in those who possessed none, three
or more factors of exhibiting predisposition of cardiovascular (p=0,028 and
0,013 respectively).
Conclusions: The frequency of finding a positive result of this study is
statistically, significantly bigger in patients who considered to be
appropriate than those who were regarded as inappropriate or uncertain for this
particular diagnostic method. The current study is inconclusive and it is
suggested that a more detailed and thorough study is to be conducted in a wider
population in Greece.
