[Transesophageal echocardiography--new possibilities of peroperative monitoring of cardiac hemodynamics].

The authors describe a new method of monitoring of the heart during operation--Intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). They discuss the influence exerted on the cardiovascular system by anaesthesia and surgery and the possibility of echocardiography to record their consequences. The authors describe briefly the technique of this monitoring, possibilities how to evaluate the global and regional function of the left ventricle, the cardiac output, preload. They compare intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography with invasive methods used for monitoring of cardiac function during operation.