Transesophageal Echocardiogram

Procedure:

A specialized probe containing an ultrasound transducer at its tip is passed into the patient`s esophagus. This allows image and Doppler evaluation from a location directly behind the heart.

Indications:

• When very high quality images of structures close to the esophagus are needed: left atrium appendage, mitral valve
• For suspicion of aortic dissection
• For the evaluation of prosthetic mitral valves
• When transthoracic images cannot be obtained