Morphology of the mitral valve as displayed by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography.

This study was performed to (1) describe how multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) facilitates imaging of the entire mitral valve apparatus, and (2) prospectively compare the morphology of the different segments of the mitral apparatus as determined by multiplane TEE and direct surgical inspection. The study consisted of 30 consecutive patients examined by multiplane TEE less than 24 hours before mitral valve surgery. The mitral valve was displayed in transgastric and transesophageal views with the imaging planes specifically aligned to demonstrate continuity between the papillary muscles, chordae tendineae, and leaflet edges. The character and location of morphologic abnormalities identified by findings of preoperative TEE were highly concordant with surgical inspection of the valve (p < 0.0001). Thus multiplane TEE offers the ability to visualize the entire mitral apparatus as a functional unit and to identify morphologic abnormalities of the valve correctly.