[Alteration of the planned surgical procedure by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in two cases of emergency operations].

ABSTRACT

We report alteration of the planned surgical procedures in two cases during emergency operations. Both patients were urgently scheduled for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery supported by an intraaortic balloon pump. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) demonstrated the findings which had not been diagnosed preoperatively and the operative procedure was altered in both cases. Information provided by TEE can be helpful especially in emergency cases where preoperative assessment may be inadequate. We have demonstrated the important role of intraoperative TEE.