Transesophageal Echocardiography
This procedure is performed by a specialized cardiologist in the presence of an anesthesiologist. It visualizes the heart and aorta from within the esophagus and stomach. Essentially, it is a transesophageal cardiac triplex.
The procedure involves a flexible endoscope (gastroscope) with a small ultrasound probe at its tip. The endoscope is advanced through the throat into the esophagus. Before the test, local anesthetic spray is applied to the throat, and mild intravenous sedation is administered. The patient’s ECG, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation are monitored throughout the procedure.
The test provides highly detailed and clear images of the heart because the esophagus is located directly behind the heart, and sound waves do not need to pass through the skin, muscles, and bones of the chest wall, as in transthoracic echocardiography.
Key indications for transesophageal echocardiography include:
- Searching for intracardiac emboli, especially in patients with a history of stroke.
- Atrial fibrillation.
- Suspected endocarditis.
- Assessment of natural or prosthetic valve diseases.
- Evaluation of the thoracic aorta.
- Detecting intracardiac masses.
- Congenital heart diseases.
- Pulmonary hypertension.
- Critically ill patients in the ICU.
- Use in interventional procedures for structural heart disease.
- Certain cardiac surgeries.
By Ioannis Barbetseas,MD, PhD, Cardiologist of Kosmoiatriki
By Maria Bonou,MD, PhD, Cardiologist of Kosmoiatriki
