Case Report Miniseries: Hemodynamic Management of Septic Patients with the ImaCor hTEE™ System

Donald Reiff MD and S. Chris Bellot MD University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

James Myktenko MD and Chad Wagner MD Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

 

Case I. hTEE detects underfilling, rules out LV dysfunction. Donald Reiff MD and S. Chris Bellot MD University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL . . .     
Case II.  hTEE detects RV dysfunction, helps guide pressor weaning in a septic patient. James Myktenko MD and Chad Wagner MD Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN 

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As many of you may be aware, clinical education is one of ImaCor's key imperatives for the year.  With that I am pleased to announce the introduction of Mastering hTEE, the clinical training pathway for physicians and clinicians.  Mastering hTEE is a robust, 5-step program that combines focused, hands-on training, hTEE case reviews and ongoing image assessments to help build the knowledge and skills to effectively administer hTEE to patients. 

 

The response to the Mastering hTEE program has been excellent.  Nicholas Cavarocchi MD, Director of the Surgical Care Unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital shared the following sentiments about our 3-view approach:

 

"The new point-of-care device ImaCor hTee probe has evolved into the standard of care in the CTICU setting. Standardized views to evaluate the pericardial space, LV and RV function, and fluid responsiveness allow the intensivist to manage patients' s/p OHS, transplantation, VAD or ECMO support. We have found that the real-time information obtained at any time has allowed us to avoid unnecessary OR take-backs, visualize placement of cannula and weaning for ECMO, adjust VAD flows, and manage right and left ventricular failure."

 

On the publishing front I am pleased to announce that just yesterday an article entitled, Initial Experience with a Disposable Transesophageal Echocardiography Monitoring System during Therapeutic Hypothermia following out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest, was published in the The Internet Journal of Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine. The article was authored by a team of physicians at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, including Julian Bick MD, John McPherson MD, Jacob Schaff MD, and Chad Wagner MD.     

Our own Harold Hastings PhD was also published this month in ICU Director.  An abstract and excerpt are included in this month's newsletter.

ImaCor recently exhibited at the 25th Annual Scientfic Assembly of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST).  This was our first demonstration of our Zura system and ClariTEE probe at a trauma academic meeting, and we were pleased with the strong reception to the clinical utility of hTEE.  This is a response we are encountering daily, and is echoed by our lead champions caring for patients following severe trauma and burns.  Donald Reiff MD, Director of the Trauma Burn Intensive Care Unit at UAB at Birmingham, recently noted that their use of the Swan-Ganz catheter has been significantly reduced in exchange for hTEE in little less than a year's time.  hTEE is now used in their unit protocol for the care of patients experiencing shock, sepsis, or episodic and sustained hypotension.

I would also like to highlight our next training course, scheduled for February 25th, 2012 in Atlanta, GA.  This is the first in a series of hTEE courses slated for 2012.  Please visit our website for more information or to register.

Finally, Scott Roth MD and I returned from a trip to Switzerland where we participated in several hTEE clinical cases.  We welcome Bern University Hospital as a new installation. 

We look forward to seeing many of you at the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) show in Houston next week.

With warmest regards,