Fatal ventricular arrhythmia as a complication of transesophageal echocardiography.

Aim: To report a case of serious ventricular arrhythmia during transesophageal echocardiography.

Methods And Results: A 58-year-old woman with previous mitral and tricuspid valve replacement and permanent pacemaker implantation suffered from recurrent fever and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed as part of the assessment for infective endocarditis. During this procedure the patient developed sustained ventricular tachycardia and subsequently ventricular flutter. She was successfully resuscitated. Subsequently the procedure was undertaken under general anesthesia with no complications.

Conclusion: The increasing use of TEE in a wider spectrum of patients, many of whom are seriously ill, may result in serious side-effects.