Speckle-tracking Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion

• Use of speckle-tracking echocardiography to validate tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion measurements with transesophageal echocardiography.
• This study intends to validate the use of speckle-tracking echocardiography to measure the distance the tricuspid annulus moves during the systolic phase. The guideline articles regarding right ventricular function suggest m-mode measurements from the transthoracic approach and the same measurements may underestimate the actual distance on transesophageal echocardiography. This speckle-tracking technology will allow this distance to be measured despite its often non-parallel motion to the ultrasound beam, which otherwise limits the reliability of the valve recorded.
• All subjects undergoing a planned surgical procedure in which the use of transesophageal echocardiography would be used regardless for their management.
• No interventions, only evaluation of the measurements obtained with transthoracic echocardiography compared to transesophageal echocardiography.
• No follow-up, study will be completed at the time of image acquisition.

Inclusion criteria

• All subjects who are scheduled to undergo general anesthesia and concurrently will be managed with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography will be included in potential subjects.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects who do not have adequate transesophageal and/or transthoracic imaging windows to allow for accurate analysis of tricuspid annular motion.