What are the goals of intraoperative echocardiography?
The goals of intraoperative echocardiography include assessment of vegetations, mechanism of regurgitation, abscesses, fistulas, and pseudoaneurysms, and confirmation of successful repair of any abnormal findings. Additionally, it is used to assess residual valve dysfunction, elevated afterload if necessary to avoid underestimating valve insufficiency or presence of residual abnormal flow, and completion of therapy to establish a new baseline for valve function and morphology, and ventricular size and function.