Perioperative Transthoracic Echocardiography Practice By Cardiac Anesthesiologists—Report of a “Start-Up” Experience

Abstract

In this paper, the authors report their experience of perioperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) practice and its impact on perioperative patient management. Retrospective case series. Single institution, tertiary university hospital. A total of 101 adult ASA II-V male and female patients >18 years old who were scheduled for or having surgery were included in this retrospective case series. All patients underwent a focused perioperative TTE exam performed by cardiac anesthesiologists with significant TTE experience, and further clinical management was based on echocardiography findings discussed with the anesthesia care team. Significant echocardiographic findings and changes in patient management were reported. Step-up management was a new intervention that was executed based on echocardiographic findings (volume infusion, inotropic therapy, cardiology consultation, and other interventions), and step-down management was avoidance of an unnecessary intervention based on echocardiographic findings (proceeding to surgery without cancellation, delay, cardiology consultation, and additional investigations/interventions). Fifty-three percent of TTEs were performed in the preoperative setting, 34% were intra-operative, and 13% were postoperative. No significant findings were detected in 38 patients, leading to step-down management in all of them. Among patients with positive findings, left ventricular dysfunction (12.8%), hypovolemia (10.8%), and right ventricular dysfunction (7.9%) were the most common. Step-up therapy included inotropic/vasopressor therapy (24.8%), intensive care admission after surgery for further management (13.8%), volume infusion (12.8%), and other interventions (additional monitoring, surgical delay, cardiology consultation, and modification of surgical technique). Perioperative focused TTE examination is useful in the diagnosis of new cardiac conditions for anesthesia management (intraoperative monitoring and hemodynamic therapy) and postoperative care (intensive care unit admissions). Perioperative TTE performed by anesthesiologists can also help avoid procedural delays and unnecessary consults.