Transesophageal echocardiography. Application to the postoperative cardiac surgery patient

Surgical outcome after an open heart procedure can be appraised using traditional diagnostic tests. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is gaining popularity as a technique for evaluating cardiac function after open heart surgery. Expert assessment skills on the part of the nurse at the bedside will impact on the successful completion of this semi-invasive diagnostic procedure.