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Cardiac arrest

Intra-arrest TOE feasible but no survival gain

Transoesophageal echocardiography during cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cardiac arrest: a scoping review
Resuscitation · Added 3 September 2026

Scoping review of 22 studies (1,254 patients, 84% OHCA) mapping intra-arrest transoesophageal echocardiography — insertion succeeded in 80–100% of cases and TEE changed management in 31–48% of patients, but the two randomised trials found no difference in ROSC, survival, or favourable neurological outcome versus conventional CPR.

Study type

Systematic review

Design

Scoping review of 22 studies

Participants

1,254 patients (84% OHCA)

Main finding

Successful TEE insertion 80–100%; TEE changed management in 31–48%; two RCTs found no difference in ROSC, survival or favourable neurological outcome versus conventional CPR

Caveat

Mostly single-centre observational studies without comparators; no long-term outcome data

Bottom line

Hypothesis-generating

Learning goal

Weigh the benefits and limitations of intra-arrest echocardiography for guiding resuscitation decisions in cardiac arrest.

More

• Topic: Cardiac arrest
• Daily scan: 3 September 2026

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