Our recent blogs have covered COVID-19 issues related to echocardiography (sonographer safety, TEE safety). This post will cover the recommendations for perioperative TEE safety during COVID-19.
Prior blogs:
- Sonographer Safety During COVID-19 Coronavirus
- COVID-19: Will I receive an IAC accreditation extension?
- TEE Safety During COVID-19
PERIOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
ASE recommends that TEE should be avoided in non-intubated patients and only performed in intubated patients in perioperative situations that warrant a TEE despite the risk.
Collaborate with surgical and support services. Why are you performing the TEE? What clinical information will you learn? How will you use this information? Will surgery be an option, if no, can the TEE be postponed. Consider alternative testing. Etc. Have a plan!
All TEE exams should be postponed or canceled if the results are unlikely to change the clinical care of the patient. Avoid and/or use alternative imaging whenever possible.
PERIOPERATIVE TEE SAFETY DURING COVID-19
Examples of perioperative situations that may warrant a TEE despite the risk:
- Urgent cardiac surgery
- Urgent non-cardiac surgery in patients with cardiac co-morbidities
- Perioperative hemodynamic instability
- Surgical procedures requiring TEE guidance
- Aortic dissection
- Infective endocarditis
- MI with mechanical complications
- papillary muscle rupture, LV rupture, etc
- Prosthetic valve assessment
Let’s all work together to limit unnecessary exposure and practice perioperative TEE safety during COVID-19.
Prior blogs:
- Sonographer Safety During COVID-19 Coronavirus
- COVID-19: Will I receive an IAC accreditation extension?
- TEE Safety During COVID-19
References:
- American Society of Echo, April 7,2020 https://www.asecho.org/covid-19-resources/
