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| 1330 Coshocton Road, Mt Vernon Ohio |
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Transesophageal Echocardiogram
What is a Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)?
A Transesophageal Echocardiogram is a useful tool used to evaluate the function and structures of the heart and associated vessels. The TEE procedure uses ultrasound waves to produce images of the heart. Performing a TEE involves passing a tube into the esophagus, or swallowing the tube. The test is performed and interpreted by a physician, usually a cardiologist, specially trained in Transesophageal Echocardiography.
Why has my doctor requested that I have a Transesophageal Echocardiogram?
There are many reasons for requesting that you undergo this procedure. Physicians use this procedure to look for any abnormalities in the physical structures of the heart, including the heart chambers, valves, and associated blood vessels. This procedure is sometimes also used to look for abnormalities within the structures that a regular transthoracic echocardiogram is not able to highlight.
How do I prepare for a transesophageal echocardiogram?
In general, you should not eat or drink fluids for several hours before the test, and be prepared to spend a few hours at the lab. If you currently take medications, you should check with your physician and/or the lab performing the test to let you know if you can continue to take them before the procedure. You will need someone to drive you home from the hospital secondary to the sedation medication you will receive during the test.
What should I expect?
Upon arrival at the lab, our staff will greet you. You will be escorted into an examination room. The room will be dimly lit and will contain an ultrasound machine and other monitoring devices. You will be asked questions by the nurse or sonographer who will want to know what your symptoms are, if you have had previous tests, if you have ever had open heart surgery and other questions about your medical history.
The staff will attach ECG lead wires and patches to your chest. A blood pressure cuff will be placed on your arm and a simple finger clip oxygen sensor will also be attached. You will be given oxygen through a tube just inside your nose. We will start an intravenous line (IV). If you wear dentures or partials, we will ask you to remove them.
The nurse may give you IV medications to help you relax during the procedure. A topical medicine in the form of a gel or spray will be used to numb the back of your mouth.
The physician will place the flexible tube in your mouth. You will then be asked to swallow as the tube is advanced into your esophagus. The tube is a modified endoscope scope which contains an ultrasound transducer that sends and receives the harmless ultrasound waves.
The physician will then begin to acquire ultrasound images and audio recordings by methodically and precisely moving the transducer in your esophagus and stomach. The movement of the tube should not be uncomfortable. The physician will be viewing the images on a monitor and will take various recordings at several different locations or "views". You should try to remain still and quiet during the exam. The imaging will take approximately 10 to 30 minutes.
What should I expect after the procedure?
After the procedure the staff will continue to monitor you until it is safe for you to be discharged. Do not plan to drive yourself home - arrange to have someone take you home. Allow 2 to 3 hours from your arrival to the time you can leave. The staff will also give you instructions for when you go home. |
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