Cardiac Assessment with 2-D Transesophageal Echocardiography

Abstract

Traditional methods of monitoring cardiac function have significant disadvantages. Assessing blood pressure and heart rate provides limited indication of impending circulatory instability. Monitoring the electrocardiogramm does not ensure detection of myocardial ischemia [1, 2]. Although invasive monitoring provides a more sensitive guide, it is associated with potentially fatal complications such as dysrhythmias and pulmonary artery rupture [3]. In intubated patients, use of 2-D TEE (two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography) should have advantages over customary monitoring systems: it is potentially safer than invasive techniques, allows direct assessment of left ventricular filling and wall motion, and produces high resolution images even in the presence of extensive lung disease of chest wall deformities when transthoracic echocardiography may not be usable. In this paper, I will describe the technique and clinical application of 2-D transesophageal echocardiography.