Routine use of transesophageal echocardiography and color flow imaging in the evaluation and treatment of children with congenital heart disease

We reviewed our experience with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and color flow imaging in 157 consecutive patients with known or suspected heart disease to ascertain the impact of this technology on patient care. TEE was performed for diagnostic purposes (22/157), during interventional cardiac catheterizations (13/157), and during operative procedures (122/157). Diagnostic studies were performed after transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in 21 of 22 patients. TEE was performed because TTE was inconclusive (15/21) or failed to provide sufficient detail of an abnormality (6/21). TEE detected an abnormality in 6 of 15 inconclusive TTEs. TEE was helpful during interventional cardiac catheterizations, particularly during umbrella closure of septal defects and in patients with complex venous and atrial anatomy undergoing transseptal puncture. TEE studies performed before cardiac operations significantly changed the diagnosis in only 5 of 122 (4%) patients, but the information changed the surgical approach in 4 of 5 of these patients. Postoperative TEE assessment more frequently changed care and resulted in further surgical management in 9 of 122 (7%) or a change in medical management in 6 of 122 (5%) patients. TEE was discontinued because of complications before studies were completed in only 4 of 157 (3%) patients. TEE and color flow imaging is a useful adjunct to care of children with known or suspected congenital heart disease.