The Effect of Routine Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography on Surgical Management

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) on surgical management of patients undergoing all types of cardiac surgery. Design: Prospective, observational. Setting: A single-institution, clinical investigation, university-affiliated hospital. Participants: Two hundred eighty-three consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Interventions: A comprehensive TEE examination was performed in every patient after the induction of anesthesia. An appropriate surgical plan was then developed. A focused TEE examination was also performed at the conclusion of surgery. Whether or not TEE findings represented new information and whether or not thi..