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“The Science Behind the Art” 
Volume 10 - No.3 2022 

Anesthesia eJournal - Online 
ISSN 2333-2611

Page 7

Transesophageal Echocardiography Use for Orthotopic Liver Transplant
Colton Sedberry, BSN, RN

Affiliation:
Texas Christian University 

Grant/Financial Support: 
None 

KEYWORDS:  Transesophageal echocardiography, Liver graft, Liver transplantation

Abstract
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an invaluable tool used in cardiac surgery. So why is it not consistently used 
in other high-risk surgeries, such as orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT)? Hemorrhage, acute cardiac dysfunction, 
fluid shifts, and other intraoperative pathologies associated with OLT present many challenges for the anesthesia 
provider. Therefore, timely identification, evaluation, and intervention of intraoperative pathology are necessary to 
maintain hemodynamic stability. Traditionally, intra-arterial and pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) were used as 
hemodynamic monitors. Recently, however, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been used for noncardiac 
surgery to assess hemodynamic status. This poster discusses perioperative care and current literature surrounding TEE 
and OLT using a case study approach. Patients undergoing OLT with both TEE and PAC had the lowest hospital 
length of stay (LOS), 30-day mortality, and infusion of fluids. This suggests that the addition of TEE with traditional 
monitors may be the safest method of hemodynamic monitoring. 

AEJ
Volume 10- No. 3 2022

About the Author: Colton Sedberry is a registered nurse pursuing his DNP in Nurse Anesthesia at Texas Christian 
University in Fort Worth, Texas.



Texas Christian University 
“The Science Behind the Art” 
Volume 10 - No.3 2022 

Anesthesia eJournal - Online
ISSN 2333-2611 

Page 8

P o w e rP o in t  T e m p la te  © 2 0 0 9  T e x a s  C h r is t ia n  U n iv e rs it y ,  C e n te r  fo r  In s t ru c t io n a l S e rv ic e s .  F o r  E d u c a t io n a l U s e  O n ly .  C o n te n t  is th e  p ro p e r ty  o f  th e  p re s e n te r  a n d  th e ir  r e s o u rc e s .

Introduction/Background
• This scholarly project focuses on a high-risk patient undergoing an 

orthotopic liver transplant (OLT). 
• Hemorrhage, acute cardiac dysfunction, fluid shifts, and other

intraoperative pathologies associated with OLT present many 
challenges for the anesthesia provider.1

• Each stage of OLT presents different challenges and varying
hemodynamic shifts. (Figure 1).1

• Timely identification, evaluation, and intervention of intraoperative
pathology are necessary to maintain hemodynamic stability. 

• Traditionally, intra-arterial and pulmonary artery catheters (PACs)
were used as hemodynamic monitors.2

• TEE utilization as a hemodynamic monitor is becoming more
popular in OLT, either exclusively or in addition to PAC.2,7

• The consideration that the use of TEE may have improved this 
patient’s intraoperative management was the inspiration for this 
scholarly project. 

Purpose
• The first objective of this project is to identify what benefits are 

gained from the use of TEE in addition to traditional hemodynamic 
monitoring techniques (CVP/PAOP) during OLT. 

• The second objective is to determine how these findings affect
fluid and medication administration in the hemodynamically 
unstable patient. 

Discussion
• The literature review found evidence that intraoperative TEE use

for OLT was proficient at rapidly identifying multiple pathologies 
and guiding fluid and vasoactive agent administration. 

• However, there was not a high quality of evidence supporting new 
TEE findings with better patient outcomes. Both SRs were unable 
to perform a metanalysis because of limited analytical data and 
variance in study methodology.3,5

• Additionally, sample sizes for the 3 reviewed observational cohort
studies were relatively small.2,4,6

• The subjective nature of the anesthesia provider’s interpretation of 
data and decision to implement a treatment was a common 
limitation found in the reviewed literature. 

• Anesthesia providers’ level of experience or certification with TEE 
was also variable throughout the studies. However, this may 
reflect a realistic view of clinical practice. 

• The best outcome-based evidence retrieved suggests that TEE 
combined with PAC produces optimal patient outcomes.2 The
authors found that the patients undergoing OLT with both TEE and 
PAC had the lowest hospital LOS, 30-day mortality, and infusion of 
fluids.2 This suggests that the addition of TEE with traditional
monitors may be the safest method of hemodynamic monitoring.

Transesophageal Echocardiography Use for 
Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Colton Sedberry, BSN, RN, Texas Christian University

Case Summary

Pre-Anesthetic Evaluation
• A 50-year-old Caucasian female underwent general endotracheal 

anesthesia for an OLT. 
• Medical history: cirrhosis, refractory ascites, portal hypertension,

portal vein thrombosis, hepatitis C, thrombocytopenia, anemia, 
obesity, and coronary artery disease.

• Surgical history: splenic embolization, coronary artery bypass graft,
and cesarean section.

• Current medication: furosemide 100 mg daily, spironolactone 300 
mg daily, lactulose 30 mg four times daily, midodrine 5 mg twice a
day, rifaximin 550 mg twice a day, montelukast 10 mg daily, 
gabapentin 600 mg three times a day, trazodone 50 mg daily, 
vitamin B12 500 mcg daily, and ferrous sulfate 60 mg daily. 

• Assessment: abdominal distention, tenderness, jaundice, and +1 
edema to bilateral lower extremities. 

Intraoperative Course
• Preoperative VS: BP 148/75, HR 89, SpO2 92%, RR 24
• IV induction: 100 mg lidocaine, 100 mg propofol, 5 mcg sufentanil,

50 mg rocuronium.
• Direct laryngoscopy with Miller #2 blade for introduction of 7.0 

endotracheal tube (ETT).
• Ventilation mode: SIMV/PS
• Maintenance: Sevoflurane and vecuronium
• Hemodynamic monitors: arterial line and introducer with PA 

catheter.
• Initial hemodynamic values: CVP 22, PA pressure 33/21, CI 2.4 
• Hemodynamic infusions: Epinephrine and norepinephrine.
• Total fluids and blood products: 1.5 L of 5% albumin, 6 units 

PRBCs, 5 units FFP, and 1 unit of platelets. 
• Rapid transfusion and warming device was used for fluid and blood 

product administration.
• Profound hypotension occurred at various points throughout the

case, at times with unknown etiology. The greatest period of 
hemodynamic instability was during the post-anhepatic stage 
(donor liver reperfusion).

Postoperative Course
• Patient remained intubated and transferred to CVICU.
• 48 hours postoperatively, patient remained intubated and required

a furosemide infusion and dialysis to treat acute kidney injury. 

References
1. Blasi A, Biancofiore G, Green D. Haemodynamic monitoring during liver transplant surgery. In: Milan Z,

Goonasekera C, eds. Anesthesia for Hepatico-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery and Transplantation. Springer; 
2021:195-208. 

2. Zerillo J, Hill B, Kim S, DeMaria S, Mandell MS. Use, training, and opinions about effectiveness of
transesophageal echocardiography in adult liver transplantation among anesthesiologists in the United 
States. Semin. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2018;22:137-145.
doi: 10.1177/1089253217750754 

3. De Marchi L, Wang CJ, Skubas NJ, et al. Safety and benefit of transesophageal echocardiography in liver
transplant surgery: a position paper from the society for the advancement of transplant anesthesia 
(SATA). Liver transplant. 2020;26:1019-1029. doi: 10.1002/lt.25800

4. Fayad A, Shillcutt S, Meineri M, Ruddy TD, Ansari MT. Comparative effectiveness and harms of 
intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in noncardiac surgery: a systematic review. Semin 
Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2018;22:122-136.
doi: 10.1177/1089253218756756 

5. Hofer CK, Zollinger A, Rak M, et al. Therapeutic impact of intra-operative transoesophageal
echocardiography during noncardiac surgery. Anaesthesia. 2004;59:3-9. https://doi-
org.ezproxy.tcu.edu/10.1111/j.1365-2044.2004.03459.x.

6. Hofer RE, Vogt MNP, Taner T, Findlay JY. Influence of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography 
and pulmonary artery catheter monitoring on outcomes in liver transplantation. Transplant. Direct. 
2020;6:e525-e525. doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000000972

7. Shillcutt, Sasha K., MD, FASE, Ringenberg KJ, MD, Chacon MM, MD, et al. Liver transplantation:
intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography findings and relationship to major postoperative 
adverse cardiac events. J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2016;30:107-114. https://doi-
org.ezproxy.tcu.edu/10.1053/j.jvca.2015.09.009.

Supporting Evidence
TEE as a Hemodynamic Monitor
• One systematic review (SR) qualitatively assessed 39 articles that included 3,193 participants addressing new diagnoses.3 Table 1 details the main 

diagnoses from each.3

• One prospective database analysis including 99 participants undergoing noncardiac surgery (7 undergoing OLT) observed 165 new findings with the
additional use of TEE to PAC monitoring.6

• A retrospective cohort study included 100 participants undergoing TEE assessment for OLT; 88% of patients had at least 1 abnormal intraoperative TEE
finding during OLT.4 The most common finding included microemboli (44%), right ventricular dysfunction (31%), and thromboemboli (27%).4 TEE was
also found to accurately distinguish hemodynamic instability caused by RV dysfunction and hypovolemia.4

Influence of TEE on Fluid and Medication Administration
• One SR included 7 noncomparative studies involving a change in management attributed to TEE use. Change in management ranged from 17 to 81%.5
• One prospective database analysis including 99 participants undergoing noncardiac surgery performed a subgroup analysis of 17 liver and lung

transplant patients.6 TEE-guided interventions occurred as follows6 (p < 0.05):
Ø Vasodilator therapy in 63% of patients
Ø Vasopressor therapy in 56% of patients
Ø Fluid management in 50% of patients

• One observational cohort study including 318 participants compared TEE, PAC, and TEE+PAC.2 The TEE+PAC group had the shortest median hospital 
length of stay (LOS) and had the lowest 30-day mortality rate.2 TEE+PAC group received the lowest volume of crystalloid and the lowest perioperative
infusions.2 The TEE group had the least perioperative time with MAP < 60 mmHg.2

Conclusions and Recommendations for Practice
• TEE can be used to promptly identify pathology associated with 

hemodynamic instability and provide information on valvular 
morphology and cardiac function.

• While the research displays an influence of TEE findings on fluid,
vasopressor, and vasodilator usage during OLT, more research 
needs to be taken to verify the positive impact of this influence. 

• Until beneficial outcomes have been validated, the use of TEE
cannot be recommended as a comprehensive intervention for 
every OLT. 

• TEE should be used based on the anesthesia provider’s judgment
along with other monitoring tools. 

Recommendation for Future Research
• Higher-quality research should be performed to validate the

outcome-based benefits of TEE findings and subsequent 
intraoperative interventions. 

• Future research with more rigorous study designs that include
greater control and randomization should be performed. 

• Data acquisition via creation of large database analyses would
control for confounding factors and selection bias.5

Figure 1. Hemodynamic Changes During Various Stages of OLT1

References
1. Dalia AA, Flores A, Chitilian H, Fitzsimons MG. A comprehensive review of transesophageal 

echocardiography during orthotopic liver transplantation. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 
2018;32:1815-1824. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2018.02.033. 

2. Hofer RE, Vogt MNP, Taner T, Findlay JY. Influence of intraoperative transesophageal 
echocardiography and pulmonary artery catheter monitoring on outcomes in liver 
transplantation. Transplant Direct. 2020;6:e525-e525. doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000000972

3. De Marchi L, Wang CJ, Skubas NJ, et al. Safety and benefit of transesophageal 
echocardiography in liver transplant surgery: a position paper from the society for the 
advancement of transplant anesthesia (SATA). Liver Transplant. 2020;26:1019-1029. doi: 
10.1002/lt.25800

4. Shillcutt, Sasha K, Ringenberg KJ, Chacon MM, et al. Liver transplantation: intraoperative 
transesophageal echocardiography findings and relationship to major postoperative adverse 
cardiac events. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2016;30:107-114. https://doi-
org.ezproxy.tcu.edu/10.1053/j.jvca.2015.09.009.

5. Fayad A, Shillcutt S, Meineri M, Ruddy TD, Ansari MT. Comparative effectiveness and harms of 
intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in noncardiac surgery: a systematic 
review. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2018;22:122-136.doi: 10.1177/1089253218756756 

6. Hofer CK, Zollinger A, Rak M, et al. Therapeutic impact of intra-operative transoesophageal
echocardiography during noncardiac surgery. Anaesthesia. 2004;59:3-9. https://doi-
org.ezproxy.tcu.edu/10.1111/j.1365-2044.2004.03459.x.

7. Zerillo J, Hill B, Kim S, DeMaria S, Mandell MS. Use, training, and opinions about effectiveness 
of transesophageal echocardiography in adult liver transplantation among anesthesiologists 
in the United States. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2018;22:137-145.doi: 
10.1177/1089253217750754 

8. Patrick J. Lynch. Transesophageal echocardiography ultrasound diagram. Wikimedia 
Commons. December 23, 2006. Accessed March 8, 2022. 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transesophageal_echocardiography_diagram.svg

Table 1. New Diagnoses Made from TEE Assessments in OLT3 Figure 3. Positioning of TEE probe in Relation to Heart.8

Figure 2. TEE image displaying dilated and dysfunctional right ventricle1


