Detection of inadvertent passage of guide wire into the false lumen during thoracic endovascular aortic repair of Type B aortic dissection by transesophageal echocardiography

Background Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become a widely accepted treatment strategy for patients with thoracic aortic pathologies. We present a case of TEVAR where transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) played a crucial role for adequate placement of an endovascular stent graft. Case presentation A 71-year-old male received TEVAR for type B aortic dissection. TEE detected both true/false lumens with an intimal tear. A guidewire was inserted into the descending aorta via the left femoral artery; however, angiography failed to identify the precise location of the tip of the guidewire. TEE detected the guide wire passing through the intimal tear into the false lumen, promoted the surgeon to manipulate and advance it to the true lumen, followed by placement of a stent graft. The patient was hemodynamically stable through the whole procedure. Conclusion TEE was crucially important for detecting the precise location of the guidewire and preventing complications during TEVAR.