title: Transoesophageal echocardiography in the intensive care unit.
abstract: The role of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) in a general intensive care unit was examined by reviewing all studies performed in a major metropolitan hospital over a two-year period. TOE was performed on 53 patients where transthoracic studies were inadequate, the indications being cardiac source of embolus (13/53), thoracic aorta abnormalities (5/53), left ventricular systolic function (22/53), endocarditis (6/53), right heart pathology (2/53), pulmonary embolus (2/53), or a potentially surgical correctable lesion (3/53). Findings were categorized into three groups: confirming suspected pathology (18/53), major incidental findings (6/53), or normal (29/53). Patient management was altered, not only by the finding of positive pathology, but also after identifying normal left ventricular systolic function (14/53). Echocardiography has become an invaluable tool in the ICU setting.
authors.affiliation: Division of Critical Care, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, N.S.W.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies