Final answer:
The choice between a stress test and TEE in mitral valve disease depends on the need to evaluate myocardial perfusion/function or detailed valve anatomy/function respectively. Stress tests, often using thallium-201, assess heart function under stress for coronary artery disease, while TEE provides high-quality images of the mitral valve for surgical planning or emboli detection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decision between performing a stress test and Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) in the context of mitral valve disease depends on what specific information is needed about the heart.
A stress test, often involving the administration of thallium-201 to a patient, is typically used to assess myocardial perfusion and function under stress, which can help to evaluate the presence of coronary artery disease in patients with mitral valve disease.
This is often visualized with a patient exercising on a treadmill while being monitored, as shown in the provided figure. On the other hand, TEE is a more invasive procedure that provides detailed images of the mitral valve and can be used to evaluate valve anatomy, function, and the severity of valve disease, which might be necessary for surgical planning or to detect sources of emboli.