Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

Reference 8

Intra-operative transoesophageal echocardiography

Reference No.

8

Reference NameIntra-operative transoesophageal echocardiography
Advisory PanelProfessor Byrant Stokes
(Chair and MSAC member)
Dr David Barton
(Medical Advisor to the MSAC)
Dr Leeanne Grigg
(Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand nominee)
Associate Professor Peter Klineberg
(Royal Australian College of Anaesthetists nominee)
Professor Thomas Marwick
(Royal Australia College of Physicians nominee)
Mr Hugh Wolfenden
(Royal Australian College of Physicians nominee)
Mr Richard McCluskey
(Consumers' Health Forum of Australia nominee)
Date Received by MSAC Secretariat1 September 2000
Stage 1 - EligibilityEligible
Stage 2 - AssessmentCompleted
Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the MinisterThis assessment was considered by the MSAC at the 22 May 2002 meeting.

The MSAC has found that there is limited evidence of the saftey, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of intra-operative transoesophageal echocardiography. The MSAC recommends that public funding for this procedure should be supported on an interim basis and restricted to intra-operative assessment of cardiac valve competence following valve replacement or repair. The provision of funding should be reconsidered no later than June 2005 to ascertain whether further additional evidence has become available which supports continued funding.
Stage 4 - DecisionEndorsed by the Minister for Health and Ageing 26 June 2002
Stage 5 - ImplementationImplemented