Intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography in aortic valve surgery

From January 1994 to May 1998, 272 patients underwent homograft aortic valve replacement (n = 139), Ross procedure (n = 100) and aortic valve repair (n = 33). Transoesophageal echocardiography was performed intraoperatively before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. Aortic valve morphology, aortic root diameter, pulmonary valve morphology, pulmonary annulus diameter and mitral valve morphology were assessed by two-dimensional imaging. Colour flow mapping was used for assessing severity of aortic regurgitation before and after the procedure. There were no complications related to the procedure. The accuracy of aortic annular diameter measured in the long axis view was confirmed at surgery. The aortic valve morphology was thought suitable for repair and a satisfactory repair was performed in 33 patients as assessed by transoesophageal echocardiography. Post-operative transoesophageal echocardiography showed a competent aortic valve in all but four of the remaining 239 patients. Intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography is easy to learn and provides the surgeon additional information necessary to decide a particular procedure. In addition, intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography provides accurate assessment of the results of surgery on the table.