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Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE): A Novel Technique for Spinal Cord Imaging

Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE): A Novel Technique for Spinal Cord Imaging

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02415244
Enrollment
75
Registered
2015-04-14
Start date
2012-07-31
Completion date
2017-09-23
Last updated
2020-01-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Spinal Cord, Epidural

Keywords

ultrasound

Brief summary

The aim of this prospective observational study is to assess whether transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can be used to identify the structures within the vertebral foramen of the spinal column and to determine the range of spinal segments which can be visualized.

Detailed description

The aim of this prospective observational study is to assess whether transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can be used to identify the structures within the vertebral foramen of the spinal column and to determine the range of spinal segments which can be visualized. Data will be collected from both pediatric and adult patients undergoing cardiothoracic and interventional cardiac surgeries under general anesthesia. Because use of TEE is a standard surgical procedure and because TEE will already be in place to visualize the heart, no additional processes will be required to collect data, minimizing patient risk. TEE will be monitored and controlled by a trained anesthesiologist or TEE technician and visualization of the spinal cord will be confirmed. Real-time TEE images will then be captured and later graded by a trained sonographer as high, medium or low quality. Starting at the level of the tracheal bifurcation, corresponding to thoracic vertebral level T5 (Mirajalili 2012), the TEE probe will be advanced cranially to determine the spinal levels visualized above T5 and caudally in order to determine the spinal levels below T5 that can be seen on TEE. At each level seen on TEE, pictures will be taken for confirmation.

Interventions

PROCEDURETEE

Spinal cord segments will be imaged using the TEE

Sponsors

Kenichi Ueda
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* patients scheduled for cardiothoracic or interventional cardiac surgeries under general anesthesia

Exclusion criteria

* We will exclude any patients with known esophageal abnormalities, lesions or disease that would disqualify the patient for the use of TEE as standard procedure. * We will also exclude any patients that come to the catheter laboratory exclusively for TEE exam as our study will only occur in patients already scheduled to undergo TEE use in surgery or diagnostic procedure.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Thoracic Spinal Segments Successfully Visualized With TEEwithin 30 minutesCount the number of short axis views of thoracic spinal cord segment and surrounding structure visualized with TEE in pediatric and adults patients.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Age 0 - 18
TEE visualization of the spinal cords in patients age between 0 - 3 TEE: Spinal cord segments will be imaged using the TEE
50
Age 18 Plus
TEE visualization of the spinal cords in patients age 18 or greater TEE: Spinal cord segments will be imaged using the TEE
25
Total75

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicAge 0 - 18Age 18 PlusTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
50 Participants0 Participants50 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants6 Participants6 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants19 Participants19 Participants
Age, Continuous5.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.8
52 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 20
20 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 25
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
23 Participants9 Participants32 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
27 Participants16 Participants43 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 500 / 25
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 500 / 25
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 500 / 25

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Thoracic Spinal Segments Successfully Visualized With TEE

Count the number of short axis views of thoracic spinal cord segment and surrounding structure visualized with TEE in pediatric and adults patients.

Time frame: within 30 minutes

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Pediatric GroupNumber of Thoracic Spinal Segments Successfully Visualized With TEE12 Thoracic segments
Adult GroupNumber of Thoracic Spinal Segments Successfully Visualized With TEE10 Thoracic segments

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026