Transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of thrombosis associated with permanent transvenous pacemaker electrodes.

Objectives: We sought to assess the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the diagnosis of PM-lead-associated central venous thrombi.

Background: Venous thrombosis is not infrequent after pacemaker (PM) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation. Previous incidence studies of thrombosis have been based on venography or Doppler ultrasound, but the role of TEE has not been systematically evaluated in this setting.