The Aortic Valve and Left Ventricular Outflow Tract
The aortic valve (AV), left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), and aortic root are positioned in the center of the heart close to the midesophagus and are separated from it by…
Aspects of Quantitative and Semiquantitative Echocardiography
The aim in this chapter is to explain the theory underlying some quantitative and semiquantitative methods used in perioperative TEE to estimate cardiac output, to evaluate the orifice size in…
Updated Practice Guidelines for Perioperative TEE
In 1996, the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the SCA published practice guidelines for perioperative TEE. Updated guidelines were published in 2010. For the updated 2010 practice guidelines, information was…
Cleaning and Care of the Probe
Appropriate care of TTE probes is essential to prolonging the life of the equipment and maintaining patient safety. For each type of probe, the manufacturer’s specific recommendations regarding cleaning, disinfection,…
Normal Values
Values provided below are from a range of sources. Wherever possible 2-D TEE values are given. In situations where these values are not available, or are poorly documented, transthoracic echocardiography…
Image Planes and Standard Views
To maximize the diagnostic yield from transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), it is important to have an understanding of standard imaging views and important anatomic–echocardiographic relationships. Echocardiography is most commonly a two-dimensional…
Heart and Lung Transplantation
Heart transplantation Assessment of potential recipients Echocardiography forms an integral part of the assessment of patients with end-stage heart failure who are being considered for cardiac transplantation Echocardiography provides information…
Three-dimensional Echocardiography
Three-dimensional (3-D) echocardiography is an exciting development with the potential to have a major impact on the practice of perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). While imaging the heart with 3-D TEE…
Common Diagnostic Pitfalls and Cardiac Masses
The appearance of many normal anatomic structures can be quite variable and may lead to pitfalls in diagnosis, resulting in unnecessary alarm and inappropriate intervention. These structures are distinct from…
Systolic Left Ventricular Function
Cornelis Kruger David Sidebotham Assessment of left ventricular (LV) function is an essential part—if not the primary focus—of every echocardiogram performed in cardiac surgical patients. A strong correlation between LV function and…
