Intraoperative TEE during TEVAR following blunt thoracic trauma: A case review

Abstract

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the most common strategy for management of traumatic aortic injury. Surgical planning and execution may involve several imaging modalities, including CT, fluoroscopy, and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). This article describes the technique and successful intraoperative application of transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) in TEVAR as an adjunct imaging modality to guide stent placement and deployment and evaluate pre- and post-TEVAR flow within an aortic pseudoaneurysm. When coupled with conventional techniques, including IVUS and fluoroscopy, this tool can be an important tool in the vascular surgeon's armamentarium for evaluating intraoperative anatomic questions related to TEVAR with little additional risk, cost, or increased operating time.

Keywords

• TEE
• TEVAR
• Vascular trauma
• Aortic injury
• Echocardiography
• Endovascular Surgery