Intraoperative assessment of cardiac function with transesophageal echocardiography during the Batista operation

We experienced anesthetic management for six cases of the Batista operation and measured cardiac function before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with transesophageal echocardiography. In the successful three patients, left ventricle ejection fraction and ejection time were maintained over 25% and 200 msec after CPB, respectively. In the other three resulting in implantation of left ventricular assist device, ejection fraction remained below 20% and ejection time under 200 msec after CPB. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography may be useful not only for monitoring of cardiac function but also for the prediction of prognosis.