Left Ventricular Volume and Ejection Fraction: Validation of Real Time 3 Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography

Left Ventricular Volume and Ejection Fraction: Validation of Real Time 3 Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography

Echocardiography is an ultrasound-based imaging technique which can be performed through the esophagus (which lies behind the heart) and through the chest wall; both TEE and TTE are performed routinely as a monitoring and diagnostic tool at different times in the course of one cardiac surgery. The purpose of the study is to compare these two methods of echocardiography and comparing them to the 2D TEE and TTE assessments, which are routinely performed simultaneously. The study will also compare the echocardiography data to a third technique, thermodilution, which measures cardiac function via a pulmonary artery catheter.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elective coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, valve repair or replacement surgery, aortic repair or replacement surgery, or any combination of these surgeries.
• 18 years or older

Exclusion criteria for thermodilution assessment are as follows:

• Moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation
• Contraindications to pulmonary artery catheter placement based on the American Society of Anesthesiologist's 2003 Practice Guidelines for Pulmonary Artery Catheterization.

Exclusion criteria for performance of TEE:

• Contraindications to the performance of TEE based on the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiologists' 2011 recommendations and the American Society of Anesthesiologist Guidelines for Performance of Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography.
• Any degree of mitral regurgitation or aortic insufficiency above trace.

Exclusion criteria for performance of TTE, both 3D and 2D:

• Qualified echocardiographer absent or unavailable.