• Mikhail R Sukernik, Sumeet Goswami, Robert J Frumento, Mehmet C Oz, and Elliott Bennett-Guerrero.
• Department of Anesthesiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. msukernik@hotmail.com
• J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2005 Apr 1; 19 (2): 150-4.

ObjectiveWith the increased use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), patent foramen ovale (PFO) has become a common finding during routine coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This survey was designed to study potential differences in the management of intraoperatively diagnosed PFO.DesignA written survey.SettingUS university and community hospitals.ParticipantsThe authors randomly selected 50% of US cardiac surgeons listed in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network Database (n = 734).InterventionsA written survey was mailed to the participants. The survey questions included respondents' use of TEE during CABG surgery, examination for a PFO with TEE, and management of intraoperatively diagnosed PFO in the CABG surgery.Measurements And Main ResultsOverall, 64% of individuals (468/734) responded to the survey request. TEE is available in the primary institution of 98.6% of respondents and used to search for a PFO in approximately one third of all CABG surgeries. During planned on-pump CABG surgery, 27.9% of respondents always close an intraoperatively diagnosed PFO, whereas 10.2% of respondents never close an intraoperatively diagnosed PFO. During planned off-pump CABG surgery, 27.6% of surgeons never change their plan, and 11% of respondents always convert the procedure to on-pump CABG to close the PFO. The majority of respondents decide whether to close a PFO based on the size of the PFO, the right atrial pressure, and a history of possible paradoxical embolism.ConclusionsIn the United States, TEE is used extensively during CABG surgery. There is significant variability in how intraoperatively diagnosed PFO is managed during CABG surgery.

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