[Clinical research on the application of trans-esophageal echocardiography in monitoring Nuss surgery].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the validity and safety of trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) in monitoring of Nuss surgery.

METHODS

A total of 140 patients with pectus excavatum from Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital underwent Nuss surgery from August, 2011 to Aμgust, 2013. Among them, 72 patients received TEE monitoring while 68 patients didn't. The injury of heart and large vessels by the introducer and Nuss steel bar was observed by intraoperative TEE monitoring under middle-esophageal four chamber view and middle-esophageal aortic short axis view.

RESULTS

The operation in all patients had been performed successfully without any severe complications. Satisfactory TEE images were obtained in all patients. The procedure of inserting the inducer and Nuss steel bar behind sternum and steel bar overturn could be seen clearly. No injury in heart and large vessels was detected. Local streak-like hemorrhage in 3 patients was observed under intra-operative TEE screen, but no further new bleeding was found in postoperative TEE examination. The blood was absorbed and couldn't see under trans-thoracic echocardiography in 1 month after the operation.

CONCLUSION

The TEE is a non-invasive monitoring method. It is sensitive to detect the status of the heart and large vessels and can prevent the severe complications due to Nuss surgery.