Immediate and early postoperative evaluation of results of cardiac surgery by transesophageal two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography.

In cardiac surgery significant residual lesions increase postoperative morbidity and mortality. Although intraoperative epicardial real-time two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography (two-dimensional Doppler) is an accurate and efficient technique for assessing the presence and severity of a residual lesion, it requires placement of a transducer in the operating field and consequent obstruction of the operative procedure. Transesophageal two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography (transesophageal two-dimensional Doppler), which can be applied intraoperatively and postoperatively without such problems, was performed in 35 patients during cardiac surgery (12 patients) and/or at an intensive care unit within 6 hr after cardiac surgery (30 patients). In those with constrictive pericarditis, an extensive pericardiectomy was performed with effective monitoring by intraoperative transesophageal two-dimensional Doppler. Abnormal posterior wall motion was observed in the case of left ventricular rupture (type III) after mitral valve replacement 3 hr before clinical manifestation. After prosthetic valve replacement (18 St. Jude Medical valves, one Carpentier-Edwards valve, one Björk-Shiley valve), no perivalvular leakage was detected, but minor physiologic transvalvular leakage was noticed in 11 patients with St. Jude Medical valves. In two patients with congenital heart disease, a small residual shunt was detected. In a patient in which a composite valve graft with direct coronary artery reattachment (Bentall's operation) was performed, reattachment was confirmed to be satisfactory. In conclusion, intraoperative and early postoperative monitoring of cardiac function by transesophageal two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography can improve the results of cardiovascular surgery by providing accurate information on cardiovascular structure and blood flow dynamics.