The role of transesophageal echocardiography in critical care: UCSF experience.

Abstract

The applications of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) now encompass the arena of critical care. We reviewed the indications, findings, and outcome of TEE in the critical care setting in a tertiary care hospital and report our experience. Eighty-three transesophageal echocardiograms were performed in 69 critically ill patients for the following indications: endocarditis (43%), embolic source (13%), hypotension (10%), mitral regurgitation (10%), left ventricular function (6%), aortic dissection (4%), prosthetic valve dissection (4%), and other (10%). Findings were unexpected in 21 of 83 studies and led to a change in management in 17%. On the basis of the results of TEE, 22% of patients had further evaluation by a more invasive technique, and 19% of patients had surgical intervention without further study. No significant complications attributable to TEE were noted. We conclude that TEE is a safe and useful diagnostic technique with fairly broad applications in the critical care setting.