Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Jul 2020
A Focused Transesophageal Echocardiography Protocol for Intraoperative Management During Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.
The value of a simplified, focused intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) protocol in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) is unknown. We sought to create and assess a 5-view LT TEE examination focused on 5 prespecified common causes of hypotension during LT. ⋯ In a retrospective cohort study, a simplified LT TEE protocol would have detected 92% of prespecified TEE findings. Management changes occurred in 94% of those patients, while changes rarely occurred in patients with other TEE findings. A focused LT TEE protocol may diagnose critical pathology adequately and guide management during LT when standard monitors are insufficient.