• André Y Denault, Stéphane Langevin, Martin R Lessard, Jean Francois Courval, and Georges Desjardins.
• Département d'Anesthésiologie et Services de Soins Intensifs, Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal, Université de Montréal, 5000 Belanger Street, Montreal, QC, H1T 1C8, Canada. andre.denault@umontreal.ca.
• Can J Anaesth. 2018 Apr 1; 65 (4): 449-472.

PurposeTransthoracic examination of the heart and great vessels is an essential skill that allows the anesthesiologist to evaluate cardiac function. In this article, we describe a pragmatic technique to obtain the essential views to evaluate normal or abnormal cardiac function and to appreciate great vessel anatomy and physiology.Principal FindingsThe cardiac anatomy and function can be described using standard parasternal, apical, and subcostal views. These windows can also be used to assess the aorta, pulmonary artery, and vena cavae; however, other transthoracic and abdominal windows can be used to complete the evaluation of the great vessels.ConclusionsThe integration of the echocardiographic information particularly from the heart and great vessels with the case story, physical examination, laboratory data, and other relevant clinical information should become the way of the future, and this will benefit the patients under our care.

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