Resuscitative Transesophageal Echocardiography in Critical Care

The use of focused critical care echocardiography, diagnostic modality aimed to provide immediate and actionable information, represents a core competency of contemporary intensive care medicine. Resuscitative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a focused, goal-directed examination performed at the point of care, for the rapid evaluation of critically ill patients in whom transthoracic images are either logistically untenable, inadequate, or unobtainable. Some of the applications of TEE in the management of critically ill patients include the evaluation of patients in shock and cardiac arrest, the assessment of trauma patients, and the guidance of several endovascular procedures. Due to the indwelling nature of the transducer, TEE can provide consistently high-quality images and allows for continuous monitoring during hemodynamic interventions, making it ideally suited for the evaluation of critically ill patients. In this article, we review the evolving landscape of resuscitative TEE, discuss the rationale, supporting evidence, safety, and training for the use of this modality in critical care settings. We address the transdisciplinary evolution of TEE and the practical aspects of its implementation in emergency and critical care settings.