Role of Tee in Major Aortic Surgery and Reconstruction

Although diseases of the thoracic aorta are the consequence of degenerative, acquired, genetic, or traumatic conditions, they all are ultimately manifested by structural changes in the aorta that can be diagnosed by imaging studies. For that reason, systematic and precise characterization of thoracic aortic anatomy and pathophysiologic changes by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in combination with angiography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies provide important information for determining prognosis, the timing of surgical repair, the type of surgical repair, and the risk of the planned procedures.