Investigation of the thoracic aorta in cholesterol embolism by transoesophageal echocardiography

Objectives To examine the thoracic aorta of patients with severe cholesterol embolism (CE) by transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE). Methods The thoracic aorta of 20 consecutive patients with CE was compared with that in a control population matched for age and risk factors by TOE. Patients were prescribed steroids after CE was diagnosed. Follow up is reported and compared with results in the literature. Results Aortic plaques and debris were more common in patients with CE than in the control population (p