title: Cost-effectiveness of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in cardiac valve surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Being a unique diagnostic technique, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has influenced many different aspects of cardiac surgery including valve repair surgery. The cost-effectiveness of this method however is questioned considering the conditions of every region and country. In this study we aimed at answering the question if utilizing TEE throughout valve repair surgery could be cost-effective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty four patients were studied within two groups of case "valve repair operation plus intra-operative TEE (IO-TEE)" and control "valve replacement operation". Variables including age, gender, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), re-operation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, hospital stay and cost were studied and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference regarding age, gender and LVEF between two groups (p=0.559, p=0.413, and p=0.408, respectively). ICU stay in repair group was less than replacement group (p=0.009). Hospital stay difference however was not statistically significant (p=0.928). The cost of valve repair under IO-TEE monitoring was significantly less than valve replacement (p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IO-TEE not only would assist surgeons by increasing their interest toward valve repair operation instead of replacing impaired cardiac valves but also consequently decrease hospital costs. It is also advised for the cardiac anesthesiologists to use IO-TEE routinely in the valve repair operations provided that there are no contraindications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahman
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naghipour
authors.forename: Rasoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azarfarin
authors.forename: Samad E J
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Golzari
authors.forename: Samad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golzari
authors.forename: Moussa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirinazhad
authors.forename: Eissa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bilehjani
authors.forename: Sohrab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negargar
keywords: Cardiac Surgery; Cost-Effectiveness; Transesophageal Echocardiography; Valve Repair