Transesophageal echocardiography in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has made its way into the cardiac surgery realm and spurred the development of many interventions. In the domain of minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS), TEE has become central to reducing cardiovascular complications. RECENT FINDINGS: Real-time three-dimensional TEE is a key contributor to the safe and precise deployment of the PASCAL mitral valve repair system, which is showing great potential in ongoing studies. The current data on outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement show that preprocedural three-dimensional TEE and multidetector computed tomography (CT) perform similarly in aortic root assessment. Three-dimensional color Doppler TEE has been suggested to be more appropriate in quantifying residual mitral regurgitation and evaluating the success of surgical or percutaneous closure. A three-dimensional TEE-derived aortomitral angle may be valuable in predicting and detecting dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, thereby enhancing the safety of transcatheter mitral valve replacement. SUMMARY: Advanced imaging modalities are essential for the sustained growth of MICS, particularly with the evolution of novel transcatheter systems. These techniques rely on exceptional imaging quality at all stages of the perioperative period to modify surgical-risk and improve patient outcomes. TEE has the additional benefit of providing real-time information on intrathoracic structures to guide intraoperative management.

Pain assessment and management: An audit of practice at a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: In spite of advances in techniques and analgesics for pain management, pain remains a major health problem. Regular assessment and reassessment of pain using guidelines with measurable goals is essential for effective pain management in surgical wards. Unfortunately, no such guidelines exist in South Africa. To implement appropriate precepts for the South African context, the current practice must be understood. AIM: The aim of this article was to evaluate pain assessment and management of patients in two surgical wards at a tertiary hospital in South Africa. SETTING: The study was conducted within the Western Cape Province of South Africa in a government-funded tertiary academic institution. The patients at this hospital are generally from the low-income strata and live in resource-poor communities. METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective medical record audit was conducted. The folders of all 215 patients admitted to a specific orthopaedic trauma and urogynaecological ward of a tertiary hospital in South Africa over a span of 1 month were targeted for review. Medical folders that were not available or had missing notes were excluded. Variables evaluated included the number of pain assessments recorded, pain assessor, assessment tool and management plan. RESULTS: A total of 168 folders were available for review. Nearly half of the patients had no documented pain assessment. The Verbal Rating Scale was the predominant tool used, and assessments were mostly conducted by the ward doctor. Pain interventions appeared to be primarily based on the professional knowledge of the practitioner and were not evidence-based. CONCLUSION: Pain assessment and management was a problem in the two wards reviewed, which is similar to the findings from studies referenced in this text. Health professionals must be empowered to manage pain adequately. An assessment tool that integrates the biopsychosocial factors that influence the pain experience should be routinely employed by a multidisciplinary team to facilitate goal-directed therapy.