THE SURGEONS USE OF TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

This article is intended to provide surgeons and non-surgeons with a f oundation of essential concepts and principles or the application of T EE in their practices. Included will be an overview of echocardiograph ic principles, advantages of TEE versus transthoracic echocardiography , comparisons of single-plane, biplane, and multiplane TEE, and how TE E can benefit general surgeons, trauma surgeons, and critical care sur geons in various clinical situations. A brief overview of basic echoca rdiographic images is provided.