Vanderbilt Anesthesiologists Use Smaller Probes to Monitor Cardiac Function

Cardiothoracic anesthesiologists from Vanderbilt University Medical Center are pioneering the use of a smaller ultrasound probe that monitors cardiac function of critically ill patients in intensive care units, according to a Health Canal report.

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Transesophageal echocardiography is a diagnostic procedure that involves feeding an ultrasound probe into a patient’s esophagus to evaluate cardiac function. Because of the esophagus’ proximity to the heart, TEE can show high-resolution images as the heart pumps, potentially locating cardiac blood clots, masses, tumors, valve problems and aortic tears.

The smaller, disposable TEE probes are being used at Vanderbilt to monitor patients who stay in the intensive care unit for up to three days. According to the report, the miniature TEE probes allow medical staff, physicians and anesthesiologists to quickly intervene when a crisis occurs.

Read the Health Canal report on TEE probes.

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