Safety of transesophageal echocardiography during extracorporeal life support

Use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has significantly increased in critically ill patients refractory to medical management. ECLS requires systemic anticoagulation to avoid thromboembolic complications and superimposed coagulopathies are common. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is frequently employed to assess cannula position and cardiac function during extracorporeal therapy. The goal of this study was to assess whether TEE probe insertion and removal in systemically anticoagulated ECLS patients was safe compared to patients without ECLS and normal coagulation studies.

Eighty-seven separate TEE examinations in 53 adult ECLS patients were analyzed. Detailed complication profiles were logged for each patient from initiation through discontinuation of ECLS. Routine coagulation testing was recorded within two hours prior to the TEE exams. Controls consisted of age- and gender-matched patients undergoing perioperative TEE without ECLS and normal coagulation (N=87).

Overall TEE-associated morbidity in ECLS patients was 2.3% and consisted of minor oropharyngeal bleeding (2/87 TEE exams) exclusively. The patients presenting with oropharyngeal bleeding received heparin for anticoagulation and had two or more abnormal coagulation studies at the time of TEE. Seventy-nine percent of ECLS patients received intravenous heparin infusions, 6.8% argatroban and 3.4% epoprostenol. Ten-point-eight percent of patients were not anticoagulated at the time of TEE because of pre-existing bleeding complications and/or deranged plasmatic coagulation profiles. No major complications (e.g., esophageal perforation, gastrointestinal bleeding, accidental extubation) were recorded in either group.

TEE remained safe in critically ill patients under ECLS, despite systemic anticoagulation, during probe insertion, manipulation and removal. TEE-related complications pertained solely to oropharyngeal bleeding amenable to conservative management.