Considerations of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography During Adult Cardiac Surgery: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Abstract

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography is used with increasing frequency in cardiac surgery for monitoring and diagnostic purposes. Recent data have shown the impact of improved outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in managing complex surgical decisions. However, specialty society recommendations have not been updated to reflect these trends. This scientific statement reviews the state-of-the-art practice of intraoperative echocardiography, summarizes the association of the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography with enhanced outcomes, and provides specific perioperative and procedural transesophageal echocardiography considerations in the cardiac surgical population.