title: [Usefulness of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in stent graft implantation for thoracic descending aorta].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stent graft implantation for thoracic descending aorta is a promising alternative to open repair. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a sensitive imaging modality for aortic disease. We reviewed our experience with TEE in stent graft implantation for thoracic descending aorta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients underwent stent graft implantation for thoracic descending aorta under general anesthesia. Intraoperative angiography and TEE were used to identify the extent of the aneurysm and the placement of the stent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TEE showed stent graft configuration and presence of leakage in all cases. In three cases, additional stent graft placement or bypass was performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Useful information was obtained by TEE in enhancing the accuracy of stent graft positioning potentially improving outcomes. TEE may facilitate repair by confirming aortic pathology, identifying endograft placement, and assessing the adequacy of aneurysm sack isolation, presence of leakage, as well as dynamic intraoperative cardiac performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Takamatsu Red Cross Hospital, Takamatsu 760-0017.
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nitta
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawahito
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yukihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitahata
authors.forename: Shuzo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oshita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents