Transesophageal echocardiography-related complications.
OBJECTIVE
The use of transesophageal echocardiography has increased over the past several years. It is generally considered a safe diagnostic and monitoring tool. Whereas complications associated with echocardiographic examination rarely occur, such complications must be known to echocardiographers performing these examinations. The purpose of this review is to summarize potential complications associated with transesophageal echocardiography.


METHODS
A systematic search of the English and French literature was undertaken using PubMed from the National Library of Medicine. Relevant articles were obtained from a Medline search spanning the years 1975-2007, and their reference lists were used to retrieve additional articles.


RESULTS
Complications of transesophageal echocardiography are primarily related to the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, and include infection, toxic drug reaction, local reaction through contamination of the probe, and ultrasound cavitation. Strategies to prevent these complications are reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas transesophageal echocardiography is associated with a low complication rate, the echocardiographer must be knowledgeable about the types of complications and their predisposing factors, and should be meticulous in preventing their occurrence.
Department of Anesthesiology, Montreal Heart Institute, 5000 Bélanger Street, Montréal, Québec H1T1C8, Canada.
Geneviève
G
Côté
André
A
Denault
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000009:adverse effects