Transesophageal Echocardiogram

What is aTransesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)?

If it is difficult to get a clear picture of your heart with a standard echocardiogram, your doctor may recommend a transesophageal echocardiogram. In this procedure, a flexible tube containing a transducer is guided down your throat and into your esophagus (food pipe) after medication is given to put you in a light sleep. Because the esophagus lies just behind the heart, the TEE provides much clearer images of the heart than a standard echocardiogram.

The transducer records the sound wave echoes as they reflect off internal structures. A computer converts the echoes into moving pictures on a monitor.  When sound waves bounce off blood cells moving through your heart and blood vessels, they change pitch. These characteristic changes (Doppler signals) help the doctor measure the speed and direction of the blood flow in your heart.

Transesophageal echocardiogram is done to:

• Detect blood clots or masses inside the heart
• Assess the severity of some valve defects
• Examine prosthetic (artificial valves)
• Evaluate holes between heart chambers
• Detect infection of the heart valves
• Diagnose a tear in the lining of the aorta (the body's main artery)
• Obtain clearer images (pictures) that a standard echo provides