[Omniplane transesophageal echocardiography: an improvement in the monitoring of percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty].

A 16 year old girl underwent percutaneous balloon dilation of the pulmonary valve. The procedure was carried out in the catheterization laboratory under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance with the patient anesthetized (ketamine) without endotracheal intubation. A 64 elements phased array "omniplane" TEE probe connected to a Sonos 1500 Hewlett-Packard system was used. The transducer assembly encased within the tip of the endoscope can be rotated through a 180 degrees arc counterclockwise and clockwise, thus obtaining a multitude of imaging planes. The right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary valve could be visualized very well and therefore monitored accurately during all phases of the procedure. In the future this technique will be able to reduce the need for X-ray exposure and dye injection during percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty especially in cases in which their use could be contraindicated.