Transesophageal echocardiography in the intensive care unit

Transesophageal echocardiography provides unique diagnostic capabilities, allowing for a very precise look at the structure and hemodynamics of the human heart. It is minimally invasive and portable, and quickly diagnoses sudden hemodynamic changes in intensive care patients. It provides invaluable and precise information about myocardial dysfunction and intracardiac volume status. It can diagnose dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction, infrequent but serious complication of aortic valve replacement, septal myectomy, or mitral valve repair. Transesophageal echocardiography examination can exclude cardiac tamponade and intracardiac source of embolization, and it offers the ability to visualize native or prosthetic valves and assesses their function in the postoperative period. It is helpful in diagnosing endocarditis and the presence of intracardiac masses. In the diagnosis of blunt chest trauma, transesophageal echocardiography offers a fast and safe look at ascending and descending aorta and pericardial effusion, facilitating future decisions about patient management. In patients with postoperative hypoxia, it can exclude intracardiac shunt. Finally, in heart transplants or in managing patients with mechanical heart assist devices, transesophageal echocardiography is an invaluable tool in assessing progress of treatment and complications arising from the procedures. With the introduction of multiplane transesophageal echocardiography probes, technology, and experienced personnel, transesophageal echocardiography becomes the extension of the physical examination in the intensive care unit. This example is one of only a few whereby technology brings the physician closer to the patient.