Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography

: Transesophageal echocardiography is being used increasingly by anesthesiologists for monitoring and diagnosis. Real-time imaging provides valuable information about anatomy, preloading and cardiac contractility. Its use is mandatory in valve repair surgery and it has been shown to detect cardiac ischemia before any other monitoring tool. Programs to teach transesophageal echocardiography to anesthesiologists should be implemented; the availability of backup support staff from the echocardiography unit is of great value.