Mobile echoes on prosthetic valves are not reproducible; results and clinical implications of a multicentre study

Abstract

The true prevalence and potential significance of mobile echoes on prosthetic heart valves cannot be assessed unless inter-observer consensus on echocardiographic criteria for identifying such echoes is reached.

The 'cardiac-lung mass' artifact: an echocardiographic sign of lung atelectasis and/or pleural effusion

“…In our cases, neither intra- nor inter-observer variations were recorded for the identification of the artifact, but past studies clearly demonstrated that assessment of mobile echoes by transthoracic echocardiography is difficult [ 7 ]. There are no clear echocardiographic criteria and/or consensus for their identification [ 7 ].…”

“…In our cases, neither intra- nor inter-observer variations were recorded for the identification of the artifact, but past studies clearly demonstrated that assessment of mobile echoes by transthoracic echocardiography is difficult [ 7 ]. There are no clear echocardiographic criteria and/or consensus for their identification [ 7 ]. The high reproducibility and inter-observer agreement in our cases was presumably due to the fact that the pathologic lung structures, responsible for the generation of the artifact, provided rather consistent imaging data, and hence a steady source of distortion of the ultrasound signal, during the study period.…”

“…Multiple acoustic windows and views can be obtained by TEE, thus facilitating the differential diagnosis of intracardiac artifact from true cardiac anomalies. Assessment may be a difficult diagnostic dilemma for the clinician, especially in the ICU setting, in which the risk for thrombus formation, infection, and other complications is increased [ 7 , 24 - 27 ].…”

“…Incidental echocardiographic artifacts may be due to a distortion of an actual structure from deviation of the ultrasound wave [ 1 - 3 ]. Various causes of echocardiographic artifacts have been described, ranging from silicon breast implants to pacemaker leads [ 4 - 7 ]. Sometimes, the cause may not be obvious and thus the generation of artifacts may be attributed to technical issues such as a poor acoustic window and/or the physical nature of the ultrasound beam.…”

Evaluation of Prosthetic Heart Valves by Transesophageal Echocardiography: Problems, Pitfalls, and Timing of Echocardiography

“…1 • may have a fibrinous or a collagenous composition. [7][8][9] Strands have been found to be more common in patients undergoing TEE for evaluation of the source of embolism than in patients examined for other reasons.…”