Table 4. Postoperative transesophageal echocardiography evaluation of aortic valve repair in the operating room: the four systematic steps.

Steps	Observation(s)
Ventricular function and hemodynamics	If impaired, caution when interpreting transvalvular gradient and residual AR
Valve opening	Assess the presence of leaflet trill
	Assess transvalvular gradient
	Assess color flow: laminar?
Valve closure	Assess the level of cusp coaptation: should be above the aortic annulus
	Exclude billowing or residual cusp prolapse
	Assess cH
	Assess eH
Residual AR	Check eccentricity
	Quantify

AR, aortic regurgitation; cH, coaptation height; eH, effective height.