Abstract
The clinical utility of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is well established
for patients undergoing cardiac surgery and with the increase in percutaneous structural
heart disease procedures that rely on TEE for procedural guidance the use of TEE probes
is expanding. Although there are well established protocols for the routine cleaning
and decontamination of the TEE probes between patient use, there is a lack of awareness
and misconceptions about the maintenance of the structural and electrical integrity
of TEE probes. The electrical leakage test (ELT) is one such test routinely performed
between patient use. The ELT is necessary from a patient safety standpoint, to ensure
the longevity of this expensive equipment as well as to prevent disruptions to the
workflow in a busy department caused by TEE probes being decommissioned due to probe
damage. This technical communication aims to highlight the importance of maintaining
the structural and electrical integrity of TEE probes. The article also highlights
and discusses probe handling techniques between patient use with a particular emphasis
on the ELT to ensure patient safety and compliance with national and international
standards.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular AnesthesiaAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
Article info
Publication history
Publication stage
In Press Accepted ManuscriptIdentification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
