A Closer Look at Your Heart
TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
(TEE)
Before Your TEE•Tellyourdoctorifyoutakeanymedicationsorhaveulcers,ahiatalhernia,ortroubleswallowing.
•Tellyourdoctorifyouhaveallergiestoanymedicationsorsedatives.
•Don’teatordrinkfor8hoursbeforeyourexam.Takeanyprescribedmedicationswithasipofwateronly.
•Checkwiththedoctorforarrivaltime.Allowplentyoftimesoyouwon’tbelate.
•Arrangetohaveanadultfamilymemberorfriendpickyouupaftertheexam.Don’tplantodriveyourselfhome,asyoumaybedrowsy.
•Allow1to2hoursfromyourarrivaltothetimeyoucanleave.
What Is TEE?Transesophagealechocardiography(TEE)isatestthatgivesyourdoctorimagesofyourheart.Itisdonefrominsideyouresophagus(foodpipe).Becausetheesopha-gusliesjustbehindtheheart,TEEgivesclearerpicturesthanstandardechocardio-graphytakenfromoutsidethechest.DuringTEE,harmlesssoundwavesbounce(echo)offyourheart.Thesesoundwavescreateimagesofyourheartonavideoscreen.Theimageshelpyourdoctoridentifyproblemssuchasheartinfectionordisease,orproblemswithyourheart’swallsorvalves.
How TEE WorksAflexibletubeaboutthesizeofyourindexfingerisinsertedintoyourmouthanddownyouresophagus.Atthetipofthetubeisasmallprobethatproducessoundwaves.Thesoundwavesbounceoffyourheartandarechangedintopicturesonavideoscreen.Thedoctorcanmovetheprobeup,down,andsidewaystolookatdifferentpartsofyourheartfromdifferentangles.Yourthroatisnumbed,soyoushouldfeellittleornodiscomfortduringtheprocedure.
A probe in your esophagus sends sound waves.
Sound waves create images of your heart.
After Your Test•Donotdrivefor12hours.•Yourthroatwillbenumbforabout4hours.Don’teatordrinkduringthat-time.Thenstartwithsmallsipsofwater.Ifyoucanswallowthewatereasily,youcaneatanddrinknormally.
•Yourthroatwillbesoreforafewhours.
•Ifyouweardentures,you’llbeaskedtoremovethem.You’llbeawake,butwillbegivenmedicationthroughanIVlinetohelpyourelax.Thisiscalledconscioussedation.Yourthroatissprayedwithananesthetictonumbit.Youmayalsobegivenoxygenthroughamask.
•You’lllieonyourleftsidewithyourchinonyourchest.Asmallplasticbiteblockwillbeputintoyourmouthtoholditopen.Theprobeisthengentlyinsertedthroughthebiteblockintoyourmouth.Asyouswallow,thetubeisguidedintoyouresophagus.Thetubeislubricatedtomakeitslideeasily.
•Youmayfeelthedoctormovingtheprobe,butitshouldn’tbepainfulorkeepyoufrombreathing.Yourheartrate,bloodpressure,andbreathingwillbemonitoredduringthetest.
•Whenthetestisdone,theprobeandbiteblockareremoved.You’llbewatcheduntilyou’rereadytogohome.
During Your TEEYoumaychangeintoahospitalgown.You’llthengotothetestingroom.Thetestusuallytakes10to30minutes.
Call Your Doctor If You Have•Sorethroatortroubleswallowingthatlastsmorethan24hours
•Bleeding•Internalpain•Stiffneck
Risks and Complications•Sorethroatorproblemsswallow-ing(usuallygoawaywithin24hours)
•Injurytothemouthoresophagus•Abnormalheartrhythms
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This product is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care.
©2010 The StayWell Company. www.krames.com 800-333-3032 All rights reserved.
Finding Out the ResultsBecausesoundwavestravelveryfast,imagesofyourheartarerecordedalmostinstantly.Insomecases,thedoctorwilldiscussyourtestresultswithyoubeforeyouleave.Butthesedativegivenduringthetestmaymakeithardforyoutorememberwhatissaid.Soitiscommonforthedoctortomakeanappointmentforanotherdaytodiscussthetestresults.