Comparison of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic examinations with the operative findings: Prospective review of 1918 cases

The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare the intraoperative t ransesophageal echocardiographic (IOTEE) findings with the operative findin gs in 1918 consecutive cardiac cases. Forty-eight discordant findings were found between the IOTEE and operative findings. Of the 48 discordant findin gs, most were related to valve pathology. Structural abnormalities that wer e missed by IOTEE included those of the aortic valve, 12 cases (25%), mitra l valve, 13 cases (27%), and pulmonic and tricuspid valves, 5 cases (10%). Functional discrepancies occurred in 8% of cases. Overall, incidence of dis crepant findings between IOTEE and operative findings was low (2.5%). This resulted in an alteration of the planned surgical procedure in a small numb er of cases (0.3%). (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999;12:237-40.).