PEDIATRIC TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPH Y

291 transesophageal echocardiographic studies (TEE) were performed in 247 children: 31 in the intensive care unit, 35 in the cardiac cathete rization laboratory and 225 intraoperatively (190 pre-, 217 postoperat ively). In the cardiac catheterization laboratory we obtained new diag nostic information in 29 of 35 TEE (83%). 7 of 31 TEE (22%) revealed s ignificant findings with therapeutic consequences. The results of surg ery could be assessed completely by postoperative TEE (217) in simple (120) in 86% and complex congenital heart defects (97) in 83% of the c ases. 5 re-operations (2.3%) were performed based on postoperative TEE . TEE should be used routinely for the assessment of surgical repair o f congenital heart defects, for evaluation of postoperative complicati ons and for monitoring of interventions in the catheterization laborat ory.