SummaryThe impact of transoesophageal echocardiography on haemodynamic management during elective noncardiac surgery was assessed during this observational prospective database analysis. Ninety-nine consecutive patients were studied, who were at risk of intra-operative myocardial ischaemia or haemodynamic instability (Class II indications) and were undergoing vascular, visceral or chest surgery. A total of 165 new echocardiographic findings were recorded. Based on these findings changes in drug therapy were made in 47% and changes in fluid therapy in 24% of patients. Left ventricular wall motion abnormalities were seen in 32% and other relevant diagnoses made in 10%. Echocardiography showed a significant impact on drug therapy in patients with pre-operative systolic wall motion abnormalities (vasodilators: OR = 7.1, CI 95% = 2.1 ⁄ 24.0; vasopressors: OR = 3.3, CI 95% = 1.2 ⁄ 9.1) and patients with a history of left heart failure (vasodilators: OR = 5.2, CI 95% = 1.0 ⁄ 31.4). Fluid therapy was significantly influenced by echocardiographic findings during liver and lung transplantation (50% compared with 24% during other surgical interventions, p < 0.05).

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