OBJECTIVE To determine the importance of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (IOTEE) in the surgical decision in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. PATIENTS AND METHOD Prospective observational study of patients undergoing cardiac surgery from January 2009 to May 2012, which was monitored with IOTEE by the anesthesiologist in charge. The data collected were: 1) type of surgery; ...

An 84-year-old man underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe, symptomatic stenosis with a self-expanding Evolut Pro (Medtronic) 29-mm valve. The procedure was complicated by embolization to the arch. additional deployed, but residual paravalvular leak noted. Because of continued heart failure symptoms, patient presented our institution definitive treatment. Multimodal ...

We present a case of 51-year-old patient after surgical closure of atrial septal defect several years ago. Enlarged right ventricle, right atrium and pulmonary hypertension were found on routine transthoracic echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed sinus venosus atrial septal defect. Partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage was suspected. Only the computed tomography with...

BackgroundThe presence of a left ventricular thrombus (LVT) poses risk thromboembolic complications and excludes patients from undergoing assist device (LVAD) implantation without the aid cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) transesophageal are used to detect LVT in with heart disease; however, detection validity these imaging studies has not been definitively eluc...

Background: Atrial fibrillation has been identified as an independent risk factor for thromboembolic events. Since 1948 different surgical techniques have described the feasibility and rationale of left atrial appendage closure. The aim this systematic review is to evaluate reported patency rates techniques. Methods: This was conducted according preferred reporting items reviews meta-analyses (...

The case of a 55-year-old woman is presented, whose clinical signs were initially suggestive of infective endocarditis. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) provided the diagnosis of a large left atrial myxoma attached to the anterior mitral leaflet. Perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) confirmed preoperative findings and assisted the surgical team in the assessment of tumour si...

Surgical technique evolved from traditional open surgery to laparoscopic surgery, offering patients reduced pain and quick recovery. Recently, a new approach called natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has emerged. In NOTES, procedures may be transvaginal, transgastric, or transrectal or transesophageal. NOTES procedures present new ergonomic challenges to surgeons due to vis...

We present an alternative technique for closing multiple ventricular septal defects difficult to access during surgery. A guidewire is advanced through the right ventricular free wall and through the main apical defect to the left ventricle, and this approach is used to place an Amplatzer device to occlude the ventricular septal defects. The procedure is performed in the beating heart, under in...

A clear question arises: why a cheaper, effective, treatment as left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) couldn ́t reach a broader use? The cost of the device for LAAC + procedure itself in Germany is estimated in €9,136 [2], slightly superior to 1-year treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors [1]. The figures are similar in USA: the cost for LAAC procedure + 2 tra...

This report describes a case of a 62 year-old man admitted for recurrent myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries, caused by coronary embolism from aortic papillary fibroelastoma. Other conditions causing acute coronary syndrome and normal coronary arteries are discussed. A careful evaluation by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography is required in this clinical setting. S...