Key result
This review provides evidence-based troubleshooting techniques, alternative monitoring options, and a clinical roadmap for managing difficult transesophageal echocardiography probe placement.
Why the study?
Encountering difficulty with TEE probe insertion presents a clinical conundrum, as repeated attempts increase complication risks while proceeding without TEE may be unacceptable.
This review provides a roadmap, evidence-based insertion tips, and alternative imaging options for providers encountering difficulty with TEE probe placement to minimize complications.
Offers practical guidance for difficult TEE placement; leaves open prospective validation of recommended techniques.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) imaging has become an essential component of many open and interventional cardiac procedures and has increasing use in monitoring for noncardiac procedures, partly because of an aging population. Whether expected or not, encountering difficulty when inserting the TEE probe presents the anesthesiologist with a conundrum. Repeated insertion attempts increase the risk of a serious complication; however, proceeding without TEE may be unacceptable to the proceduralist or surgeon. The aim of this review is to present the spectrum of complications possible with TEE, propose several evidence-based insertion tips, examine potential alternative cardiac imaging options, and finally, propose a roadmap for providers who encounter difficulty when placing a TEE probe.
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Hillenbrand et al. (2019) conducted a review in Difficult transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe placement. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe placement was evaluated. This review provides evidence-based troubleshooting techniques, alternative monitoring options, and a clinical roadmap for managing difficult transesophageal echocardiography probe placement.
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