This Article Résumé de cet Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a scholarly reply Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lambert, A. S. Articles by Duke, P. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lambert, A. S. Articles by Duke, P. C.

Survey of the members of the cardiovascular section of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society on the use of perioperative transesophageal echocardiography - a brief report

[Enquête auprès des membres de la section cardio-vasculaire de la Société canadienne des anesthésiologistes sur l'usage de l'échographie transsophagienne]

A. Stephane Lambert, MD FRCPC^*, C. David Mazer, MD FRCPC^* and Peter C. Duke, MD FRCPC

^* From the Departments of Anesthesia, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; and the University of Manitoba,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Dr. A. Stephane Lambert, Department of Anesthesia, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street, 1-DN, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8, Canada. Phone: 416-864-5825; Fax: 416-864-6014; E-mail: lamberts{at}smh.toronto.on.ca

Purpose: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a useful diagnostic and monitoring tool in the operating room. In the United States, an increasing number of centres are training anesthesiologists to preform intraoperative TEE. In Canada, TEE has been slow to gain acceptance as an intraoperative monitor and little information is available on its use by the anesthesiologists across the country.

Methods: We surveyed all members of the cardiovascular section of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society, to find out how many perform TEE, how they acquired their skills and how they use TEE in their practice.

Results: The response rate was 48.4%. Most respondents were Canadian-trained cardiac anesthesiologists working in university centres. 91% of respondents stated that their centres offer intraoperative TEE services. Of those services, 35.1% were provided by anesthesiologists only, 13% by cardiologists only, and 51.9% by both. 53.8% of respondents have certification in intraoperative TEE (NBE/SCA, ASE or Provincial College). 90% of respondents use equipment that is less than five years old and multiplane probes are used by almost everyone. There was strong support for Canadian-based continuing medical education events in perioperative TEE.

Conclusion: TEE appears to be available in most cardiac centres in Canada and anesthesiologists are actively involved in providing intraoperative TEE services, using state-of-the-art equipment. Many anesthesiologists have formal training in TEE.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. A. Finegan Progress through cooperation: securing a sound training pathway for perioperative transesophageal echocardiography/Le progres par la cooperation : concretiser l'acces a une formation solide sur l'echocardiographie transoesophagienne perioperatoire. Can J Anesth, October 1, 2006; 53(10): 969 - 972. [Full Text] [PDF]