Acquisition of ascending aortic flow velocities with monoplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) have been problematic because of limitations of available imaging planes and alignment of the Doppler beam with aortic flow. The rotatable imaging array of multiplane TEE (Multi TEE) may provide improved alignment with ascending aortic blood flow. The purpose of this study was to establish the validity of maximal aortic flow velocities (VMax) and velocity time integrals (VTI) obtained by a Multi TEE continuous wave Doppler technique by comparison with those obtained by established echocardiographic techniques, suprasternal Doppler (SSD), and monoplane TEE (Mono TEE). Forty-five patients scheduled for elective surgery were prospectively studied. Multi TEE-obtained VMax and VTI were significantly greater (P <.05), 120 +/- 28.9 cm/s and 25.8 +/- 7 cm, than those obtained by the SSD method, 100.2 +/- 28.6 cm/s and 19.8 +/- 6.8 cm, respectively. Bias analysis revealed that Multi TEE better assessed VMax (mean difference -19.7, SD of the difference of 28 cm/s) and VTI (mean difference -5.9, SD of the difference of 6.4 cm) than the SSD method. Multi TEE exhibited values for VMax 10% or greater than those obtained by SSD in 18 (48. 6%) of 37 patients, and Multi TEE was 10% or greater than SSD in 23 (67%) of 37 patients for VTI determination. Values obtained by Multi TEE and Mono TEE showed close agreement. Multi TEE provides a favorable alignment for continuous wave Doppler interrogation of aortic flow and compared favorably to established techniques. This technique expands the utility of TEE to evaluate aortic valvular function and cardiac performance.