How Rescue Echocardiography Changed the Intraoperative Management of an Obese Patient with Refractory Hypotension?

The value of perioperative echocardiography as a rescue tool to complement the clinical assessment of patients who develop hemodynamic instability during noncardiac surgery is becoming increasingly recognized. Several studies have demonstrated the utility of echocardiography in establishing a diagnosis during clinical emergencies. We present the case of an obese patient with refractory hypotension during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery in which rescue transesophageal echocardiography was pivotal in elucidating a diagnosis and changing the course of management.