The effect of transesophageal echocardiography on ventilation in small infants undergoing cardiac surgery

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is frequently used during congenital cardiac surgery. Complications are infrequent, but interference with venti lation has been reported, especially in small infants. Ventilation variable s were measured prospectively in 22 infants, 2-5 kg, undergoing heart surge ry with TEE. Measurements were made preoperatively before and after TEE pro be insertion and postoperatively before and after TEE probe removal. The va riables measured included arterial blood gases, expired tidal volume, peak inspiratory pressure, positive end-expiratory pressure, minute ventilation, airway resistance, dynamic compliance, and peak inspiratory and expiratory flow rates. No significant change in any ventilatory variable at either ti me period was noted in the infants. Implications: Ventilatory compromise is infrequent in small infants undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (T EE) examination. Careful ventilatory monitoring rapidly detects changes in ventilation during TEE examination. Small infants who benefit from TEE duri ng heart surgery should not be excluded from receiving a TEE examination be cause of concern of ventilatory compromise.