Use of the monoplane intracardiac imaging probe in high-risk infants during congenital heart surgery.

UNLABELLED

Imaging options are limited in high-risk infants with small or abnormal oropharyngeal anatomy during congenital heart surgery.

METHODS

All cases in which the monoplane intracardiac echo probe was used for transesophageal intraoperative imaging over a 15-month period at a single institution were reviewed.

RESULTS

Eleven patients underwent intraoperative imaging using the intracardiac probe. Patient weight ranged from 1.96 kg to 4 kg. Adequate images of the anatomy relevant to the surgical repair were obtained in all cases. No adverse events related to probe use occurred.

CONCLUSION

Transesophageal echocardiography using the monoplane intracardiac echo probe provides safe and effective imaging in patients who are not candidates for standard transesophageal echocardiography.