How Rescue Echocardiography Changed the Intraoperative Management of an Obese Patient with Refractory Hypotension?
The value of perioperative echocardiography as a rescue tool to complement the clinical assessment of patients who develop hemodynamic instability during noncardiac surgery is becoming increasingly recognized. Several studies have demonstrated the utility of echocardiography in establishing a diagnosis during clinical emergencies. We present the case of an obese patient with refractory hypotension during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery in which rescue transesophageal echocardiography was pivotal in elucidating a diagnosis and changing the course of management.
From the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Connie
C
Wang
Kenneth
K
Shelton
Vilma E
VE
Ortiz
D019468:Disease Management; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery