Airway compression by a biplane pediatric transesophageal echocardiography probe: case report. 1998

A C Ho, and P P Tan, and M W Yang, and P C Chung, and C H Chang
Department of Anaesthesia, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. angie122@ms16.hinet.net

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been extensively used in cardiac surgery to assess cardiac function and anatomical relationships in both adults and children. Newer monitoring devices, despite being labeled "noninvasive", often present significant risks. Physicians should be cautious with the use of TEE in infants and small children, recognizing that oversized probes may inadvertently compress vital structures, resulting in airway or vascular compromise. If severe compression of the airway or vascular structures occurs, TEE monitoring may need to be discontinued. Although technological progress has yielded smaller ultrasonic probes, the TEE probe is significantly larger than most other devices placed in the esophagus. We present in this report a case of airway compression using a small-sized biplane pediatric TEE probe in a child undergoing Blalock-Taussig shunt surgery. Pediatric patients may be more at risk for airway obstruction because of the over-size of the probe-distended esophagus in relation to adjacent airway structures.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D008297 Male Males
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000402 Airway Obstruction Any hindrance to the passage of air into and out of the lungs. Choking,Airway Obstructions,Obstruction, Airway,Obstructions, Airway
D017548 Echocardiography, Transesophageal Ultrasonic recording of the size, motion, and composition of the heart and surrounding tissues using a transducer placed in the esophagus. Transesophageal Echocardiography

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