Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Cooling or Warming the Esophagus to Reduce Esophageal Injury During Left Atrial Ablation in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: March 15, 2020
Chemical burn injury secondary to intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography
Steven G Venticinque1, Vikram S Kashyap, Robert J O'Connell
1Departments of *Anesthesiology, †Vascular Surgery, and ‡Infection Control, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX 78236.
Unlabelled:
We describe a case of a 72-yr-old male who suffered aerodigestive tract chemical injury resulting from a probable post-processing residual of the high-level disinfectant solution Cidex OPA (ortho-phthalaldehyde) used to disinfect the transesophageal echocardiogram probe used for cardiac monitoring during general anesthesia. This case highlights the need for strict adherence to manufacturers' instructions when using chemical disinfectants for transesophageal echocardiogram probe reprocessing.
Implications:
We describe a case of aerodigestive tract chemical injury resulting from a probable post-processing residual of the high level disinfectant solution Cidex OPA (ortho-phthalaldehyde) used to disinfect the transesophageal echocardiogram probe used during general anesthesia.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Burn Injuries
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Clinical Manifestations:
Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus.
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System II:Types of Echocardiography
Types of Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)
TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram which involves placing a transducer on the patient's chest, emitting sound waves to create heart images. TTE is invaluable for evaluating the heart's size, structure, and motion, making it particularly useful for diagnosing...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion, evaluates...
Cardiac Catheterization II: Right Heart Catheterization

