Survey of the members of the cardiovascular section of the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society on the use of perioperative transesophageal echocardiography — a brief report

PURPOSE: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a useful diagnostic and monitoring tool in the operating room. In the United States, an increasing number of centres are training anesthesiologists to preform intraoperative TEE. In Canada, TEE has been slow to gain acceptance as an intraoperative monitor and little information is available on its use by the anesthesiologists across the country. METHODS: We surveyed all members of the cardiovascular section of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society, to find out how many perform TEE, how they acquired their skills and how they use TEE in their practice. RESULTS: The response rate was 48.4%. Most respondents were Canadian-trained cardiac anesthesiologists working in university centres. 91% of respondents stated that their centres offer intraoperative TEE services. Of those services, 35.1% were provided by anesthesiologists only, 13% by cardiologists only, and 51.9% by both. 53.8% of respondents have certification in intraoperative TEE (NBE/SCA, ASE or Provincial College). 90% of respondents use equipment that is less than five years old and multiplane probes are used by almost everyone. There was strong support for Canadian-based continuing medical education events in perioperative TEE. CONCLUSION: TEE appears to be available in most cardiac centres in Canada and anesthesiologists are actively involved in providing intraoperative TEE services, using state-of-the-art equipment. Many anesthesiologists have formal training in TEE.