Upper gastrointestinal bleeding from a Mallory-Weiss tear associated with transesophageal echocardiography during successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A case report

BACKGROUND: In recent years, it has been recognized that transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is of great value in resuscitation of cardiac arrest. However, its safety has rarely been reported. CASE SUMMARY: We present a 59-year-old male patient scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery for rheumatic heart disease. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding from a Mallory-Weiss tear appeared following cardiopulmonary resuscitation, TEE, and percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass resuscitation when he suffered from aesthesia-related cardiac arrest. Gastrointestinal injury was diagnosed promptly and treated effectively. However, the exact etiology of gastrointestinal injury was unclear; the interaction of closed-chest cardiac massage and the application of TEE may be involved as a most possible mechanism of injury. CONCLUSION: Serious complications should be considered when TEE is used in patients with special pathophysiological conditions.