Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography findings in cardiovascular surgery

Introduction and objectives: Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is a very important tool in cardiac surgery. A description is presented in this article on the impact of the findings using TOE during cardiac surgery. Method: A prospective and descriptive study was conducted on patients undergoing scheduled surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to which TOE is performed before and after surgery. The data collected were: the confirmation of the surgical indication, the new pre-operative and post-operative findings, the modifications in the planned surgery, and the re-entry into CPB. Results: The study included 488 patients. New findings were found in 122 patients (25%), which a led to a change in the planned surgery in 57 (11.68%). In the 31 patients (6.35%) in whom postoperative problems were found, 13 (2.6%) needed re-entry into CPB. Conclusions: Using TOE during surgery is a safety and quality tool for the patient, and its use should be required in cardiac surgery. (C) 2019 Sociedad Espanola de Cirugia Toracica-Cardiovascular. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.