Test Overview

A transesophageal echocardiogram is a test to help your doctor look at the inside of your heart. A small device called a transducer directs sound waves toward your heart. The sound waves make a picture of the heart's valves and chambers.

Your doctor may do this test to look for certain types of heart disease. Or it may be done to see how disease is affecting your heart.

You will be given medicine to make you sleepy and comfortable during the test.

The doctor puts a small, flexible tube into your throat and guides it to the esophagus. This is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. The doctor will ask you to swallow as the tube goes down.

The transducer is at the tip of the tube. It gets close to your heart to make clear pictures. The doctor will look at the ultrasound pictures on a screen.

You will not be able to eat or drink until the numbness from the throat spray wears off. Your throat may be sore for a few days after the test.

Why It Is Done

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) may be done to:

• Monitor heart function during surgery.
• Look for masses or blood clots in the upper left chamber (left atrium) of the heart.
• Check how well a replacement heart valve works.
• Measure the speed at which blood travels through the heart.
• Measure the blood pressure and speed of blood flow through the heart valves.
• Identify abnormal blood flow between the chambers of the heart (cardiac shunt).
• Help find out if you have endocarditis, which is an infection of the heart's valves or its inner lining (endocardium).
• Guide procedures done during cardiac catheterization.
• Help find out if you have a tear in the aorta (aortic dissection).

How to Prepare

Procedures can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for your procedure.

Preparing for the procedure

• Follow your doctor's instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking before the test. This may be about 8 hours.
• Be sure to tell your doctor about any problems you have with your stomach or esophagus.
• Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
• Understand exactly what procedure is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your procedure. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the procedure and how soon to do it.
• If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your procedure. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
• Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don't have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It's a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.

How It Is Done

Before a TEE, your throat may be numbed with an anesthetic spray, gargle, or lozenge. This is to relax your gag reflex and to make it easier to insert the probe. Shortly before the procedure starts, an I.V. line will be placed in a vein in your arm. Medicine to decrease saliva and stomach secretions may be given through the I.V. A pain medicine and sedative will be given to you through the I.V. in your arm during the procedure. You should feel relaxed and drowsy but still alert enough to cooperate.

Your heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the procedure. Also, a small device used to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood (pulse oximeter) may be attached to your finger or earlobe.

You will be asked to lie on your left side with your head tilted slightly forward. A mouth guard may be inserted to protect your teeth from the probe. Then the lubricated tip of the probe will be guided into your mouth while your doctor gently presses your tongue out of the way. You may be asked to swallow to help move the tube along. It may be helpful to remember that the probe is no thicker than many foods you swallow. When the probe is in your esophagus, it will be moved down gently to the level of your upper right heart chamber (atrium), and ultrasound images will be taken. You won't feel or hear the sound waves during the test.

How long the test takes

The test may take about 30 to 60 minutes. The probe may be in your esophagus for about 10 to 20 minutes.

How It Feels

• You may notice a brief, sharp pain when the intravenous (I.V.) needle is placed in a vein in your arm.
• The anesthetic sprayed into your throat may taste bitter. It will make your tongue and throat feel numb. But it will not affect your breathing.
• The I.V. medicines will make you feel relaxed and drowsy. You will be awake enough to cooperate. You may not be able to remember much of the test.
• The doctor will gently put a small, flexible tube into your mouth and throat. You may be asked to swallow to help move the tube. You may feel the tube move, but it will not be painful.
• Other side effects—such as heavy eyelids, trouble speaking, a dry mouth, or blurred vision—may last for several hours after the test.

After the test, you may have a tickling, dry throat; slight hoarseness; or a mild sore throat. These symptoms may last for 2 to 3 days.

Risks

A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) can sometimes cause:

• Nausea.
• Mouth and throat discomfort.
• Minor bleeding.
• Trouble breathing.
• Slow or abnormal heartbeats.

Insertion of the probe may tear or puncture your esophagus. This is rare.

Results

Results are usually available within one day. If the test is done by a cardiologist, the results may be available immediately after the test.