Validation and Feasibility of Intraoperative Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiographic Cardiac Output

Abstract

In this pilot study, we attempted to validate three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) cardiac output and assess its feasibility intraoperatively. Twenty patients undergoing cardiac surgery underwent simultaneous cardiac output determinations during the clinically stable prebypass period by 3DTEE and thermodilution. The correlation coefficient between cardiac output measured by the two methods was 0.86. The 3DTEE mean bias was 0.27 L/min, limits of agreement -1.64 to 2.17 L/min (approximately +/-35%). Three-dimensional data acquisition averaged 43 s; postprocessing took 7 min. Three-dimensional TEE can measure cardiac output and is feasible perioperatively. Measurements have good correlation with thermodilution, though with a significant bias and wide limits of agreement.