The Year in Perioperative Echocardiography: Selected Highlights From 2022

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Perioperative echocardiography is crucial in cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia.
• Continuous research updates are essential for optimizing patient outcomes.
• The Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia highlights key advancements annually.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize significant research developments in perioperative echocardiography from 2022.
• To focus on advancements relevant to cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia.
• To provide a foundation for understanding and applying new echocardiographic techniques.

Main Methods:

• Review of selected research highlights from 2022.
• Focus on four major themes: mitral valve assessments/interventions, training/simulation, transesophageal echocardiography outcomes/complications, and point-of-care cardiac ultrasound.
• Synthesis of information to identify key trends and findings.

Main Results:

• Updates in mitral valve assessment and intervention strategies.
• Advances in echocardiography training and simulation methods.
• Insights into outcomes and complications associated with transesophageal echocardiography.
• Developments in the application of point-of-care cardiac ultrasound.

Conclusions:

• The selected themes represent a sample of the rapid progress in perioperative echocardiography in 2022.
• Understanding these advancements is vital for enhancing perioperative care.
• Application of these findings can improve outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing cardiac surgery.