Guidelines for performing a comprehensive epicardial echocardiography examination: recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists.

摘要

More than a decade before the introduction of TEE, epicardial echocardiography was already in use as a diagnostic imaging modality to assist cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and cardiologists with clinical decision-making.12 A comprehensive epicardial echocardiographic examination can be performed efficiently and safely,13 and may be the most practical intraoperative imaging technique when a TEE probe cannot be inserted or when probe placement is contraindicated Epicardial echocardiography may be superior to TEE because it can provide optimal image resolution when using higher frequency probes.