Transesophageal echocardiography
Eva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.Transesophageal echocardiography is an ultrasound examination of the heart in which the ultrasound probe is advanced over the esophagus (esophagus) to the level of the heart. The examination is also called swallowing echo. Various heart diseases can be identified better with it than with normal echocardiography, in which the sound is attenuated by the chest. Learn more about transesophageal echocardiography.
What is transesophageal echocardiography?
In transesophageal echocardiography (TEE = transesophageal echocardiography), the heart and the main artery (aorta - originates from the left ventricle) are examined from inside the body using ultrasound. For this purpose, a flexible tube with an ultrasound probe (TEE probe) at the end is pushed over the esophagus to the entrance of the stomach. Since the esophagus is located directly behind the heart, more accurate images can be obtained with this examination technique than with conventional transthoracic echocardiography, in which the transducer is placed on the outside of the chest - the lungs and ribs interfere with the sound.
When is a transesophageal echocardiography performed?
A transesophageal echocardiography will primarily be performed by the doctor in the following cases or suspected diseases:
- Blood clots in the heart
- Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis) and its cardiac complications
- congenital or acquired heart valve defects
- Bulging of the aortic wall (aortic aneurysm)
- Assessment of the function of artificial heart valves
The swallow echo is also suitable for assessing the function of artificial heart valves.
What do you do with a transoesophageal echocardiography?
For transesophageal echocardiography, the patient must be fasted, i.e. he must not eat or drink anything for at least six hours before the examination. During the examination, the patient must first swallow the TEE tube. If this causes problems, the throat can be anesthetized locally. The administration of a sedative is also possible.
Then the doctor pushes the tube with the ultrasound probe over the esophagus up to the level of the stomach entrance in order to examine the heart using ultrasound: the images are displayed on a monitor.
What are the risks of transesophageal echocardiography?
With transesophageal echocardiography, the following complications can occur in very rare cases:
- Injury to the esophagus
- Injury to the larynx
- Injuries to the teeth
- Cardiovascular disorders when taking sedatives or painkillers
- allergic reactions to the sedative
- Impairment of breathing from the sedative
What should I watch out for after a transesophageal echocardiography?
After the TEE examination, if only the throat has been anesthetized, you should not eat or drink anything for two hours. If you have been given a sedative, you should not drive or use machines for up to 24 hours. How much time you need to plan for the transesophageal echocardiography and whether you can return to work on the same day after an outpatient procedure should be discussed with the attending physician.
