By Transesophageal Echocardiography In The Cardiovascular Surgery

BACKGROUD: To provide an overview in the application of intraoperativetransesophageal echocardiography (IOTEE) during various cardiovascularsurgery based on our experience with 493 cases.METHODS: Retrospective studies on the IOTEE examinations in the past fouryears.RESULTS: Prebypass imaging yielded unsuspected findings that eitherhelped or modified the surgical plan in 52 cases (11.2%). The real-timeTEE revealed the need for further surgical revision in 24 cases (5%) afterre-beating. TEE was the major or sole guiding factor in 17 cases (3.5%)that result in surgical intervention or hemodynamic management beforeleaving the operating room. 28 cases (5.8%) benefited from the use ofTEE in the locating and removing of the retained intracardiac air embolism.Inaccuracy diagnosis of TEE was been identified in 27 cases (5.8%). 484cases (98.2%) were accomplished readily. There were no severecomplications attributable to all the TEE examinations.CONCLUSION: IOTEE is useful in formulating the surgical plan, guidingvarious hemodynamic and surgical interventions, and assessing theimmediate results of surgery. It is safe and the results are reliable inthe hands of trained anesthesiologists.