TE Air in the Left Atrium

December 13th, 2024
(Updated December 13th, 2024)
Page 1

Artifact in the LA cavity shadowing the aortic root

(T411). 27-12-2021 – YYX, Female, 59y., BSA= 1.9 m2
Severe mitral valve stenosis -> mitral valve mechanical prosthesis and tricuspid valve repair.
Intra-operative transesophageal examination

Post-CPB exam.

See Abbreviations. Figure 1B, Asterisk: AV cusps. White arrows: shadowing of the aortic root (Ao) by the artifact on the LA wall (towards the aortic root). Figure 2B, Red arrows: artifact on the full volume Live 3D imaging.

Figure 1A – Biplane view (O° + 90°), based on the mid-esophageal 4-chamber view.
Figure 2A – Live 3D, cranial view
Figure 1B - Biplane view (O° + 90°), based on the mid-esophageal 4-chamber view
Figure 1B – Biplane view (O° + 90°), based on the mid-esophageal 4-chamber view.
Figure 2B - Live 3D, cranial view
Figure 2B – Live 3D, cranial view

Figure 1A shows a biplane view (O° + 90°), based on the mid-esophageal 4-chamber view, of the LA, RA, Ao and LV (Figure 1B). An artifact is seen on the LA wall towards the aortic root, which casts a shadow on the aortic root (white arrows).
The artifact can also be seen on Live 3D imaging (Figures 2A and 2B: red arrows) and in the 3-chamber view (Figures 3A and B: white arrows). This artifact, on TE imaging in the post-CPB examination, is probably caused by air trapped in the LA cavity.

Figure 3A – TE mid-esophageal 3-chamber view
Figure 3B - TE mid-esophageal 3-chamber view
Figure 3B – TE mid-esophageal 3-chamber view