Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997; 45(6): 321-325
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1013760
Cardiovascular Review

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Impact of Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography on Cardiac Surgery

H. M. Loick1 , H. H. Scheld2 , H. Van Aken1
  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Medicine
  • 2Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Westphalian Wilhelms University, Münster, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

1997

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

Abstract

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is recognized as a semi-invasive technique with increasing impact on diagnostic tools in cardiac surgery. Particularly, TEE plays a role in patients undergoing cardiac valve repair or congenital heart surgery with regard to the assessment of the operative success. Other proven roles of TEE are in evaluating atheromatous disease of the aortic arch, detection of aortic dissection and aneurysm, and diagnosis of pathologic findings within the heart and the pericardial sac. The power of TEE in diagnosis and decision making may lead to an improved clinical outcome which in turn may lead to a reduction in financial efforts.