The role of transesophageal echocardiography in aortic surgery

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Medical Imaging
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Aortic diseases, including dissection and aneurysm, pose significant morbidity and mortality risks.
• Preoperative imaging with CT and MRI is crucial for planning aortic surgeries.
• Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has emerged as a vital perioperative imaging modality for aortic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the role and benefits of Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) in managing aortic diseases.
• To emphasize TEE's diagnostic accuracy and impact on patient safety during aortic surgery.

Main Methods:

• Review of Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) applications in perioperative aortic disease management.
• Comparison of TEE sensitivity and specificity against other imaging modalities.
• Discussion of emerging techniques like 3D TEE and contrast-enhanced TEE.

Main Results:

• TEE demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing aortic diseases and complications.
• TEE improves patient safety and outcomes in both open and endovascular aortic repair.
• TEE is particularly effective in detecting graft endoleaks during endovascular aortic repair.

Conclusions:

• Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an invaluable tool for aortic surgery, enhancing patient safety and outcomes.
• Advanced TEE techniques show promise in complex aortic procedures like dissection repair and stent procedures.
• TEE should be routinely considered in the perioperative management of patients undergoing aortic surgery and endovascular procedures, barring contraindications.