Utilizing transesophageal echocardiography for placement of pulmonary artery catheters

Abstract

By securing the PAC at the one o'clock TEE position, physicians are assured of a safety margin of several centimeters. This direct visualization method for PAC placement may decrease the risk for accidental wedging intraoperatively.

Feasibility of pulmonary valve imaging using transesophageal echocardiography upper esophageal view

“…While it was not primary goal, all study subjects' main pulmonary artery and main branches were visualized with excellent image quality from that particular plane. 20 Meanwhile TTE, the traditional first step for PV evaluation, infrequently images this valve well, especially in adults. 3,6,17,[21][22][23][24][25][26] Three dimensional TTE image continues to evolve and as a result image quality and resolution also continue to improve, but 3D echo remains even more dependent on image quality than 2D echo.…”

Echocardiographic identification of atrial‐related structures and vessels in horses validated by computed tomography of casted hearts

“…In human medicine, transoesophageal and transthoracic (apical) views allow fairly good visualisation of the dorsal atria and pulmonary veins . The latter have been extensively studied because of their importance in the pathophysiology and therapy of atrial fibrillation; however, visualisation, measurements and therapeutic procedure guidance are all almost exclusively based on CT or MR images.…”

Where Should We Leave the Wild “Raa Raa” During Cardiopulmonary Bypass?

“…There is no substantial body of evidence supporting the optimal placement of the PAC during CBP. There are several suggested options; [Figure 2a-e Second, some anesthesiologists prefer withdrawing the catheter 5 cm into the main pulmonary artery [Figure 2b] [29,30], which does not preclude the possibility of entangling the PAC into surgical sutures in the pulmonary trunk or tricuspid valve [7,16]. Third, withdrawing the PAC to the right ventricle [Figure 2c] or right atrium [Figure 2d] still risks being entrapped in the surgical suture line, especially in the case of right heart surgery [4,6].…”