Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Complications of esophageal ultrasound during dog mitral valve surgery
By Kurogochi, Kentaro et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·JASMINE Veterinary Cardiovascular Medical Center, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Transesophageal Echocardiography-Related Complications During Mitral Valve Repair in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 60 dogs undergoing surgery for mitral valve repair had a special ultrasound procedure called transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to help guide the operation. After the procedure, 20 of the dogs showed minor injuries to the esophagus, but these were mostly very small and not visible with standard checks. The dogs experienced slight drops in blood pressure and heart rate during the TEE, which means vets need to monitor them closely during this procedure. Overall, the risk of serious injuries from TEE is low.
People also search for: dog heart surgery complications · mitral valve repair dog recovery · transesophageal echocardiography risks
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an indispensable modality in cardiac surgery; however, the complications associated with its use in veterinary clinical settings remain unclear. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To investigate the complications associated with TEE probe manipulation during mitral valve repair in dogs and identify the risk factors for new mucosal injuries. ANIMALS: This prospective study evaluated 60 client-owned dogs that underwent TEE to support mitral valve repair. METHODS: Esophageal endoscopy was performed twice-once after anesthesia induction and once before extubation-to assess esophageal mucosal injuries during the procedure. The type of injury was classified as 'complex' (intramural hematoma and mucosal laceration), 'minor' (petechiae and ecchymosis), or 'minute' (visible only on narrowband imaging) lesions. During the surgery, TEE was performed three times. Hemodynamics were evaluated before the initial TEE insertion and immediately after it was removed. RESULTS: Of the 60 dogs, newly detected mucosal lesions were observed in 20 dogs and classified as 'minor' in four and 'minute' in 16 dogs. These 'minute' lesions were not visible with conventional endoscopy, and no 'complex' lesions were identified. No significant factors were associated with the presence of mucosal lesions. After TEE insertion, systolic blood pressure decreased from 95 ± 13 mmHg to 92 ± 11 mmHg (p = 0.008), and heart rate decreased from 128 ± 25 bpm to 123 ± 24 bpm (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Intraoperative TEE results in a low incidence of esophageal mucosal injuries. Hemodynamic changes could occur during TEE manipulation, underscoring the need for close monitoring.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40095386/