Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in a 1.4-kg infant with complex congenital heart disease.
The lower weight limit for infants undergoing intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with current commercially available probes has not been determined. A review of the literature reveals that infants as small as 1.6 kg have been studied successfully. This report describes the first intraoperative TEE reported in a 1.4-kg infant during truncus arteriosus/interrupted aortic arch repair. Successful pre- and postoperative images of the cardiac abnormality were obtained. Probe insertion was performed in this small patient after predilating the esophagus with a 14-F suction catheter.
Mart
C R
CR
Department of Pediatrics, Penn State University, The Milton S Hershey Medical Center, P O Box 850, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Fehr
D M
DM
Myers
J L
JL
Rosen
K L
KL
D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007430:Intraoperative Care