Transesophageal echocardiography during orthotopic liver transplantation in patients with esophagoastric varices.

Background: Hemodynamic monitoring using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients with signs of portal hypertension undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) carries potential risk of esophageal and gastric variceal hemorrhage. The aim of our retrospective analysis was to evaluate the safety of intraoperative TEE monitoring during OLT in patients with esophagogastric varices.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 396 liver transplant recipients was performed at the Medical University of Vienna monitored by TEE during OLT between 2003 and 2010.