Basic Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography Research Articles

Intraoperative transesophageal assessment of coronary artery flow can predict 5 type myocardial infarction

Abstract Background Stenosis of a coronary artery results in an increase in flow velocity in the pathologic segment. Effective grafting should decrease the stenotic native coronary velocity according to hemodynamic law. The range of decreased velocity before and after cardiac surgery can hypothetically reflect the effectiveness of a graft. The aim of the study is to determine if measuring coronary flow velocity changes during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can predict intraoperative myocardial infarction. Methods One hundred sixty-six (166) consecutive patients (121 men, 64±9 years old) referred for cardiac surgery, were prospectively included in the study. A standard basic perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination was performed with additional scans of the left main, left anterior descending (LAD), and circumflex (LCx) arteries' proximal segments. Measurements of coronary flow velocities were performed before and after grafting in the same sites of the arteries. The maximal value of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) after CABG and the additive criteria were accounted for in the analysis as it is described in the expert consensus document for Type 5 myocardial infarction (MI) definition. Results One hundred sixty-three patients (98%) had arterial hypertension, 28 patients (17%) had diabetes mellitus, 35 patients (21%) were currently smokers. The feasibility of coronary flow assessment during cardiac operations was 95%. Before grafting, the mean velocity in the left main artery was 91±49 cm/s, in LAD 101±35 cm/s, and in LCx 117±49 cm/s. There was a significant correlation between changes in coronary flow velocities during operation and the value of cTnI (R=0.34, p<0.0001). Ten patients met the criteria for Type 5 MI. There were no differences in age, body mass index, number of coronary arteries with stenoses, frequency of prior MI, ejection fraction or coronary flow velocity before surgery in patients with and without Type 5 MI. The group of patients with Type 5 MI had an increase in native artery velocities during surgery in comparison with patients without MI, who had a significant decrease in coronary flow velocity after grafting (30±48 vs. −10±30 cm/s; p<0.0006). Increases in native coronary velocities greater than 3 cm/s predicted Type 5 MI with 81% accuracy (sensitivity 88%, specificity 70%). Conclusion Coronary flow velocity assessment during cardiac surgery could predict an elevation of cardiac troponins and Type 5 MI. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Pilot Study Suggests Smartphone Application Knowledge Improves Resident Transesophageal Echocardiography Knowledge: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The objective of this study was to determine whether an asynchronous smartphone-based application with image-based questions would improve anesthesiology resident transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) knowledge compared with standard intraoperative teaching alone. Prospective, single-blinded, pilot, randomized controlled trial. Large university teaching hospital. Participants were anesthesiology residents on their cardiac anesthesiology rotation. EchoEducator, a TEE image-based smartphone application of learning content through questions, was developed. Content was derived from the Examination of Special Competence in Basic Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination portion of the APPLIED Examination and focused on identification of basic TEE views, cardiac structures, and pathology. Residents were randomly assigned to receive access to either the application or to standard intraoperative teaching. Thirty residents met inclusion criteria, and 18 residents completed the study. A pre-intervention assessment was given at the beginning of the rotation, and a post-intervention assessment was given after 2 weeks. The primary outcome was the difference between the post-test score and the pre-test score. Standard bivariate statistics and the chi-square test were used for categorical variables, and the Student t test was used for continuous variables. Tests were 2-sided, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The intervention group demonstrated a greater increase in score; (+19.19% [95% confidence interval 4.14%-34.24%]; p = 0.02) compared with the control group. This study supports the hypothesis that use of a smartphone-based asynchronous educational application improves TEE knowledge compared with traditional modalities alone. This supports an opportunity to improve medical education by expanding the role of web-based asynchronous learning.

P1564 Changes in coronary flow velocity measuring during coronary bypass grafting can predict elevation of cardiac troponin

Abstract Background Stenosis of a coronary artery results in an increase in flow velocity in the pathologic segment. Effective grafting should decrease the stenotic native coronary velocity according to a hemodynamic law. The range of decreased velocity can hypothetically reflect the effectiveness of a graft. Grafting effect insufficiencies often cause elevations in periprocedural cardiac troponin (cTn) elevation. The aim of the study is to determine, if measuring coronary flow velocity changes during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can predict further cTn elevation. Methods and results Consecutive 68 patients (48 men, 64 ± 9 years old), who were referred for CABG, were included into the study. A standard basic perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination was performed with additional scans of the left main, left anterior descending (LAD), and circumflex (LCx) arteries’ proximal segments. Measurements of coronary flow velocities was performed before and after grafting in the same sites of the arteries. The maximal value of cTnI within 48 hours after CABG was accounted for in the analysis. All patients had arterial hypertension, 15 patients (22%) had diabetes mellitus, 12 patients (18%) was current smokers. Forty-one patients (60%) had prior myocardial infarctions, 18 persons (26%) had previous coronary stenting. The ejection fraction before the operation was 56 ± 13%. Before grafting the mean velocity in the left main artery was 79 cm/s (25th-75th quartile, 42-111), in LAD 98 cm/s (25th-75th quartile, 71-125), and in LCx 116 cm/s (25th-75th quartile, 68-156). There was a strong significant correlation between changes in coronary flow velocities and the value of cTnI (R = 0.56, p &amp;lt; 0.0004). The patients with and without significant elevations in cTnI had differences in coronary velocity changes before and after grafting (p &amp;lt; 0.009). Patients with elevated cTnI in more than 5 times, had, on average, an increase in the velocities for native arteries of 21 ± 19 cm/s. Conclusion Coronary flow velocity assessment during CABG could predict an elevation of cardiac troponins after cardiac surgery. Abstract P1564 Figure.

Ideal Sequence of Didactic Lectures and Simulation in Teaching Transesophageal Echocardiography Among Anesthesiologists

Performing a basic perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) requires 3-dimensional knowledge of cardiac anatomy, psychomotor skills, and image interpretation. Commonly, lectures followed by simulation sequence is used for teaching TEE. Differences may occur among learners when this sequencing of instructional components is altered. The authors investigated the ideal sequence of lectures and simulation in teaching basic perioperative TEE. Prospective randomized comparative study. Simulation room in a large academy tertiary care center. Noncardiac anesthesiologists in Singapore with no prior knowledge of TEE. Comparison of acquisition and retention of knowledge and skills between the lecture followed by simulation group (LS) and the simulation followed by lecture (SL) group. Knowledge was assessed using multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and skills using a skill test. The primary outcome measured was the MCQ scores (post-course and retest) and the skill test scores (post-course and retest). Of the 43 anesthesiologists who were recruited, 22 were randomized into the LS group and 21 to the SL group. All participants took pre-course and post-course MCQs and post-course skill tests. Post-tests were repeated 1 month after the course to assess retention. There was no significant difference in the post-course MCQ (85.87% v 81.82%) and skill test scores (85.78% v 81.55%) between the SL and LS groups, respectively. The SL group demonstrated significantly better retention of knowledge at 1 month (MCQ score 83.5% v 72.73%; p = 0.003) and skills (skill test score 85.32% v 1.90%; p = 0.016) than the other. This study showed that, for retention (at 1 month) of both knowledge and skills, it is preferable to teach practical skills followed by theoretical knowledge to anesthesiologists who are complete novices to TEE.

Resident performance in basic perioperative transesophageal echocardiography

Background:Training in transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is based on hands-on training in the operating room, which is time consuming and therefore limits its experience among anesthesiologists. Medical simulations have been successfully used for training of invasive procedures in many areas.This paper compares the difference in effectiveness of teaching the 11 basic TEE views using either e-learning, simulation based training or hands-on training in the operating room in 3 groups of residents.Methods:We included 51 anesthesia and intensive care residents of all training levels but no prior training in echocardiography in this prospective randomized single-center study.Residents received a tutorial about theoretical knowledge followed by 2 practical study sessions either by e-learning using an online simulator (www.pie.med.utoronto.ca/TEE), with the simulation mannequin (CAE Vimedix Simulator) or in the operating room. Both, a theoretical multiple choice test (0–50 points) and a practical exam test (0–110 points) on the simulation mannequin had to be completed.The primary endpoint was the post-training scores in the practical and theoretical exams after all training sessions.Results:Residents received significantly higher test scores in both practical and theoretical examinations after training with the simulation mannequin (108.41 ± 2.09, 40.6 ± 5.23, n = 17) compared with e-learning (106.88 ± 4.53, 36 ± 4.76, n = 17) or hands-on training (106.82 ± 2.01, 34.94 ± 4.72, n = 17).Conclusions:Simulation based TEE training provides more effective training than other teaching methods. It is therefore especially suitable for the initial stages of TEE training to acquire psychomotor skills and knowledge of echo-anatomy.

Standard Setting for Clinical Performance of Basic Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography

Credible methods for assessing competency in basic perioperative transesophageal echocardiography examinations have not been reported. The authors' objective was to demonstrate the collection of real-world basic perioperative transesophageal examination performance data and establish passing scores for each component of the basic perioperative transesophageal examination, as well as a global passing score for clinical performance of the basic perioperative transesophageal examination using the Angoff method. National Board of Echocardiography (Raleigh, North Carolina) advanced perioperative transesophageal echocardiography-certified anesthesiologists (n = 7) served as subject matter experts for two Angoff standard-setting sessions. The first session was held before data analysis, and the second session for calibration of passing scores was held 9 months later. The performance of 12 anesthesiology residents was assessed via the new passing score grading system. The first standard-setting procedure resulted in a global passing score of 63 ± 13% on a basic perioperative transesophageal examination. The global passing score from the second standard-setting session was 73 ± 9%. Three hundred seventy-one basic perioperative transesophageal examinations from 12 anesthesiology residents were included in the analysis and used to guide the second standard-setting session. All residents scored higher than the global passing score from both standard-setting sessions. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first demonstration that the collection of real-world anesthesia resident basic perioperative transesophageal examination clinical performance data is possible and that automated grading for competency assessment is feasible. The authors' findings demonstrate at least minimal basic perioperative transesophageal examination clinical competency of the 12 residents.

Basic Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography Examination

Basic Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography Examination

Book Review: Basic Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography: A Multimedia Review

Book Review: Basic Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography: A Multimedia Review

Echocardiography and Anesthesiology Successes and Challenges

Echocardiography and Anesthesiology Successes and Challenges