Feasibility, Safety, and Utility of Advanced Critical Care Transesophageal Echocardiography Performed by Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellows in a Medical ICU

摘要

BACKGROUND: Competence in advanced critical care transesophageal echocardiography allows the intensivist to diagnose and manage cardiopulmonary failure when transthoracic echocardiography is not sufficient to answer the clinical question. This report describes the feasibility, safety, and utility of transesophageal echocardiography performed by pulmonary and critical care fellows in a medical ICU in critically ill patients who were mechanically ventilated.