Late Presentation of Esophageal Injury After Transesophageal Echocardiography

Abstract

Esophageal injury is a rare complication of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) associated with cardiac surgery. We report two cases of delayed presentation (2 and 6 days after surgery) of esophageal injury that were likely due to TEE. The differential diagnosis of postoperative pleural effusion or anemia must include esophageal injury from TEE, even 6 days after the procedure.