Gastroesophageal Perforation after Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography

Abstract

THE use of transesophageal echocardiography for intraoperative monitoring of cardiac function is increasing. Complications are rare. Oropharyngeal injury and hypopharyngeal perforation during difficult insertion of the echoprobe in anesthetized patients have been reported. 1,2 One case of perforation of the cervical esophagus in an awake patient after multiple attempts at insertion of the echoprobe has been reported.3 Esophageal perforation from an echoprobe in an anesthetized patient, however, has not been published. We observed and report a case of perforation of the gastroesophageal junction in an anesthetized patient after an easy insertion of the echoprobe that yielded good quality transesophageal echocardiograms.