[Transesophageal echocardiography from the surgical viewpoint]

Following the development of new techniques in echocardiography and especially of Doppler color flow imaging, a new dimension of cardiac surgery has been brought about. The use of transesophageal probes facilitates routine surgery to be performed without interferences and, also, comparability between repeated ultrasonic measurements. Originally, echocardiography was mainly applied for quality control by comparing pre- and postoperative echocardiograms. Now it is equally important in perioperative strategy planning guiding the surgeon's decision throughout the operation as well as in cardiac emergencies. Using intraoperative echocardiography routinely in cardiac surgery establishes a more and more close cooperation between surgeons, cardiologists, and anesthesiologists. In order to evaluate the clinical relevance of echo findings, they have to be repeatedly correlated to surgical realities and to long term results of clinical outcome.