Biplane transesophageal echocardiography: an anatomic-ultrasonic-clinical correlative study.

In 427 subjects TEE was performed with either a uniplane or biplane transducer; in seven cadavers the cardiac anatomic segments were observed in several levels and directions. Nine transverse and six longitudinal views were compared with the corresponding cardiac anatomic segments. Based on this correlative study, the levels of segments, insertion depth, anatomic structure identification, image characteristics, clinical applications, and the advantages as well as the limitations of biplane TEE are discussed.