A CLINICAL COMPUTER DATABASE ENTRY FORM FOR AN INTRAOPERATIVE ANESTHESIOLOGY-BASED TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY MONITORING SERVICE

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been increasingly applied t o supplement and, in instances, to supplant conventional intraoperativ e cardiac monitoring. Our body of experience (> 1600 intraoperative TE E procedures), combined with insights gleaned from an intramural quali ty assurance study, and clinical implications of certain recent advanc es in the field, led us to develop the following TEE computer database entry form. The form, completed intraoperatively, consists of a patie nt and surgical procedure demographics section, followed by fields bas ed on the TEE examination. The scans encompass transverse plane basal short axis, long axis, and transgastric views of the heart and great v essels. The two-dimensional echocardiographic, saline-contrast, color flow and pulsed Doppler data represent both right and left ventricular performance, valvular function and specific lesions. This database en try form is intended to serve as a guide for performance of a nominall y complete intraoperative study and facilitate maintenance of a TEE ar chive consistent with current advances.