Intraoperative TEE and Improved Outcomes After Valve or Proximal Aortic Surgery
Key Points from Paper
Question: Is intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) use associated with improved clinical outcomes among patients undergoing cardiac valve or proximal aortic surgery?
Findings: This matched cohort study of 872 936 patients undergoing cardiac valve or aortic surgery between 2011 and 2019 found that intraoperative TEE use was associated with lower 30-day mortality, a lower incidence of stroke or 30-day mortality, and a lower incidence of cardiac reoperation or 30-day mortality.
Meaning: These findings suggest that intraoperative TEE may improve clinical outcomes after open cardiac valve (repair or replacement) and/or aortic surgery.
This bar chart graphs the 30-day mortality rates among patients undergoing cardiac valve or aortic surgery with TEE (orange) vs without TEE (blue) across all analyses. Statistical analyses from left to right: (1) Unadjusted comparison; (2) All-patient (across hospital, across surgeon comparison); (3) Within hospital, within all-surgeon comparison (supplemental analysis); (4) Within hospital, within surgeon (with equivocal: 0.30 – 0.70 TEE preference) comparison.