Safety and efficiency of the new 3D transoesophageal pediatric probe in paediatric cardiology

Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) remains essential in paediatrics to assist interventional catheter procedures and to assess residual lesions after cardiac surgery. 3D TEE was restricted until now to adults due to the size of the probe. A new paediatric matrix TEE probe (GE 9VT-D) has recently been marketed but its use in practice has not yet been reported. The aim of this study is to assess handling and imaging quality of the new 3D paediatric TEE probe. Children who underwent TEE with the new probe were enrolled during 15 days in October 2023. Probe insertion and handling were assessed. All imaging modalities quality were rated by 2 operators from 1 (very bad) to 4 (very good). Fifteen children were included, median age 10 month (range: 2 month-14 years) median weight 7.8 kg (range: 4.3–40 kg). Twenty TEE were performed: 6 (30.0%) before cardiac surgery, 6 (30.0%) after cardiac surgery, 7 (35%) during a percutaneous procedure, 1 (5.0%) in the intensive care unit. Insertion and handling of the probe were “very easy” in all patients and no adverse event related to probe use was recorded even in small children. The mean score of 2D, 2D color and doppler image quality were 4, and was 3.8 ± 0.4 for 3D images and 3.5 ± 0.4 for 3D color images. The quality of the 3D image did not differ depending on whether the patient weighed more or less than 10 kg (P = 0.32). Postoperative TEE, including transillumination, was useful to assess surgical results, but no residual lesions required reintervention. TEE guiding for percutaneous intervention was always useful (Figure 1). The 3D paediatric TEE probe is safe and efficient for use in paediatric cardiology. It may enhance the confidence of imaging interpretation and may improve the accuracy and efficiency of the procedures.