title: Validation and feasibility of intraoperative three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic cardiac output.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this pilot study, we attempted to validate three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) cardiac output and assess its feasibility intraoperatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients undergoing cardiac surgery underwent simultaneous cardiac output determinations during the clinically stable prebypass period by 3DTEE and thermodilution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The correlation coefficient between cardiac output measured by the two methods was 0.86. The 3DTEE mean bias was 0.27 L/min, limits of agreement -1.64 to 2.17 L/min (approximately +/-35%). Three-dimensional data acquisition averaged 43 s; postprocessing took 7 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-dimensional TEE can measure cardiac output and is feasible perioperatively. Measurements have good correlation with thermodilution, though with a significant bias and wide limits of agreement.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Scott & White Hospital, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76508, USA. wculp@swmail.sw.org
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Culp
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Burnett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology*; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies