Transesophageal Echocardiography

A transesophageal echocardiography is a special type of echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). The test uses special echocardiography transducer (ultrasound camera) that is inserted through the patient’s mouth, through the back of the throat, and into the esophagus or feeding tube between mouth and stomach.

There are two main advantages of this type of echocardiogram. First, it allows your cardiologist to get a much better look at some of the heart structures, including the wall between the two top chambers of the heart and heart valves. This is because the esophagus and stomach are very close to the heart and may allow the cardiologist to obtain more detailed pictures of the heart compared to routine echocardiograms performed from the chest wall. Secondly, it allows the cardiologist to obtain images of the heart during heart procedures (surgery and cardiac catheterization) without having the echo camera in the way of the procedure.

Your doctor may recommend a transesophageal echocardiogram for several reasons. The most common is to provide additional information during heart surgery or cardiac catheterization. Other indications include trying to find a possible reason a stroke, trying to find a small hole between the upper chambers of the heart that a regular echocardiogram could not see, making sure there are no blood clots in the heart in children with abnormally fast heart rhythms, looking for infections in the heart, checking that artificial valves are working properly, and making sure that the wall of the aorta is not damaged. Some conditions would lead to your cardiologist recommending against transesophageal echocardiography such as sever narrowing of the esophagus or stomach.

The procedure usually takes 20 to 40 minutes, bit the total time with sedation is usually 60 to 90 minutes. The procedure is very safe. Your doctor will go over the risks of the procedure with you and give you an opportunity to ask questions prior to the test. Almost everyone can return to normal activity within 24 hours.