Transesophageal echocardiography. A technique for intraoperative monitoring.

Cardiac ischemia and myocardial infarction continue to be major causes of perioperative morbidity and mortality, despite aggressive intraoperative monitoring. Intraoperative TEE is evolving as a helpful noninvasive monitor in patients with coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease. Early detection of ischemia and evaluation of valve function with continuous imaging has allowed the use of TEE as a dynamic tool to optimize therapeutic management of cardiac dysfunction that was not always readily available by conventional invasive techniques. As new equipment and techniques are developed, this monitoring method will undoubtedly find even more frequent intraoperative use.