[Focused Transthoracic Echocardiography in the Perioperative Setting].

[Focused Transthoracic Echocardiography in the Perioperative Setting]. Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. 2019 Feb;54(2):90-106 Authors: Vojnar B, Zoremba M Abstract With focused transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) we rapidly and non-invasively receive up-to-date information on a patient's hemodynamic status. These can subsequently influence our therapy and thus our risk management. Postoperatively, TTE has proved its worth as an examination method in the recovery room and in the intensive care unit to promptly diagnose life-threatening causes of circulatory depression. Acute pathology such as a pericardial tamponade or fulminant pulmonary artery embolism can be detected quickly and thus possibly time-consuming transport to a CT can be avoided. Also, preoperatively, the use of TTE may be useful for assessing volume status, pumping function, or hemodynamically relevant heart defects. Especially in surgical interventions with a high perioperative risk of complications, these findings can be incorporated into a goal-directed therapy. Corresponding algorithms for enhanced hemodynamic monitoring and volume management already exist in many areas, but they are often not consistently implemented in the processes of their own clinic. In this article, we demonstrate the utility and relevance of TTE hemodynamic evaluation at every stage of patient care. We also present a possible algorithm for the care of critically ill patients, ...
Source: Anasthesiologie, Intensivmedizin, Notfallmedizin, Schmerztherapie : AINS - Category: Intensive Care Authors: Tags: Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther Source Type: research