Transesophageal Echocardiograms

A transephageal echocardiogram, also referred to as a TEE, is an advanced imaging test that may be employed to thoroughly visualize the heart either prior to or immediately following cardiac surgery. For this test, the transducer device that emits sound waves to create computer-generated pictures of internal structures is attached to a tube-like instrument that is threaded down from the mouth and through the esophagus. Here, its close proximity to the upper heart chambers allows for detailed visualization of the area so that physicians can determine the size of the heart and thickness of its walls, the efficiency with which the heart is beating, whether one or more of the heart’s valves may be affected by an infection, and whether a blood clot or leaky valve may be present. A TEE can give surgeons more information about the heart prior to operating on a dysfunctional heart valve, aortic tear or congenital heart lesion. It may also be used in treating patients with a bacterial heart infection called endocarditis.