title: Should cervical and thoracic osteophytes be a contraindication for transesophageal echocardiography in cardiac surgery?
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Department, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK. hanyhassan77@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elsayed
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shackcloth
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D000075202:Contraindications; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054850:Osteophyte / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed