RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Currently, transesophageal echodopplercardiography (TEE) is frequently performed under sedation on an outpatient basis. Sedation is related with increase in incidents on airways. Bearing in mind this scenario, we developed a new double lumen oropharyngeal cannula aimed at keeping airway patency, in addition to reducing risks to patients during endoscopy procedures performed under sedation. The main objective of our study was to assess the incidence of oxygen desaturation in a series of cases of adult patients submitted to outpatient TEE exam, under sedation and using the oropharyngeal cannula. METHOD: Thirty patients under sedation with intravenous midazolam and propofol were assessed. After loss of consciousness, the cannula was placed and patients were maintained on spontaneous breathing. Oxygen saturation, capnometry, heart rate and non-invasive arterial blood pressure, in addition to subjective data: airway patency, handling of cannula insertion, and comfort of examiner were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of mild desaturation was 23.3%, and there was no severe desaturation in any of the cases. The insertion of the oropharyngeal cannula was considered easy for 29 patients (96.6%), and TEE probe handling was appropriate in 93.33% of exams performed. CONCLUSIONS: TEE exams under sedation aided by the double-lumen oropharyngeal cannula presented a low incidence of desaturation in patients assessed, and allowed analysis of expired CO2 during the exams.