Screening the thoracic aorta for atheroma: a comparison of manual palpation, transesophageal and epiaortic ultrasonography.

Abstract

Manual palpation and TEE are inaccurate methods of atheroma detection in zones 1-4. Epiaortic ultrasonography is recommended for all patients undergoing cardiac surgery, although the yield will be low for patients < 50 years of age or if there is nil or mild atheroma detected by TEE in zones 5-6.