How to Say It: Trans-e-sohf-ah-GE-al Eck-o-car-de-O-gra-fee
Echocardiography uses sound waves to make pictures of the heart. In transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), the ultrasound probe is passed down the throat to the food pipe. The food pipe is close to the heart.
This test is done to look for problems of the heart, such as:
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Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over problems that could happen such as:
Things that may raise the risk of problems are:
The doctor may talk to you about:
You will be given medicine to make you sleepy. Throat spray will numb your throat.
You will on your side lie on a table. Slippery material will be applied to a probe. The probe will be slid down the throat into the food pipe until it is near the heart. The probe will create images of the heart. When the imaging is done, the probe will be taken out.
15 to 30 minutes
There may be some mild discomfort during the procedure. Your throat may be sore for a few days.
Food and drink will need to be avoided until the throat numbness wears off.
The doctor will discuss the results of the test with you.
Call your doctor if you have:
If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.
American Heart Association
http://www.heart.org
Radiology Info—Radiologic Society of North America
https://www.radiologyinfo.org
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://www.heartandstroke.ca
Mount Sinai Hospital
https://www.mountsinai.on.ca
General ultrasound. Radiology Info—Radiologic Society of North America website Radiology Info website. Available at: https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/genus. Accessed September 9, 2021.
Parker BK, Salerno A, et al. The use of transesophageal echocardiography during cardiac arrest resuscitation: a literature review. J Ultrasound Med. 2019;(5):1141-1151.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). American Heart Association website. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/diagnosing-a-heart-attack/transesophageal-echocardiography-tee#.WpmUfWrwZxA.. Accessed September 9, 2021.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). EBSCO DynaMed wesbite. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/evaluation/transesophageal-echocardiography-tee. September 9, 2021.
Transesophageal echocardiogram. Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/transesophageal-echocardiogram. Accessed September 9, 2021.
Last reviewed July 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Nicole Meregian, PA Last Updated: 9/9/2021
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