Does a transesophageal echocardiogram hurt?

Your throat will be numbed with an anesthetic, then a flexible tube about the size of your index finger is inserted into your mouth and down your esophagus. During the procedure, you may feel the probe moving, but it won’t be painful or interfere with your breathing.

How do you feel after a TEE test?

You may feel weak, tired, or groggy for the rest of the day of the test. You should feel normal by the day after the procedure. Your throat may be sore for a few days after the procedure due to the insertion of the TEE probe.

Are you awake during transesophageal echocardiogram?

Once the test is ready to begin, you will be given a sedative to help you relax, and a numbing medication will be sprayed down your throat. This will make the passage of the transesophageal ultrasound probe more comfortable. You will be awake enough to swallow if necessary.

What are the side effects of a TEE?

Possible risks of a TEE include:

• Breathing problems.
• Heart rhythm problems.
• Bleeding.
• Injury to the teeth, mouth, throat, or esophagus.

Is a TEE safe?

TEE is generally a safe procedure. At Stanford, we take every precaution to ensure our patients’ safety during a TEE. Possible risks of a TEE include: Damage to the esophagus, including bleeding or a tear (very rare)

Can you eat after a TEE?

Wait at least one hour after the test (or until the numbness in your throat is gone) before eating or drinking. Start by drinking a cool liquid. If you don’t have any problems, you can eat and drink as you normally would.

What colors are bad on an echocardiogram?

If you look even closer, you can see that the mitral valve in this echocardiogram has severe prolapse. You can see the failure of the anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets to seal tightly. Plus, the rampant mixture of red and blue colors in the echocardiogram illustrates significant backward blood flow.

Is transesophageal echocardiography safe?

In comparison with other diagnostic modalities, TEE is relatively safe and noninvasive. However, the insertion and manipulation of the ultrasound probe can cause oropharyngeal, esophageal, or gastric trauma.

Is a TEE test safe?

Risks of Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) TEE is generally a safe procedure. At Stanford, we take every precaution to ensure our patients’ safety during a TEE. Possible risks of a TEE include: Damage to the esophagus, including bleeding or a tear (very rare)

Is a transesophageal echocardiogram considered surgery?

A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is a diagnostic procedure that uses echocardiography (sound waves) to assess the heart’s function.

What should I watch after TEE?

What to Expect After Your TEE. After your test, you’ll rest in a recovery area. Staff will watch your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. Once those vital signs are stable, you can swallow normally, and you feel alert, your nurses will take off your chest electrodes, cuff, and clips, and remove your IV tube.

What is the recovery time after a tee?

At home. You may feel soreness in your throat. This will go away in 1 to 2 days. In the meantime, drink plenty of water and use cough drops to soothe your throat.

How is a transesophageal echocardiogram performed?

Like standard echocardiography, the TEE uses sound waves to produce an of the beating heart. However, while standard echocardiography is performed by placing the sound wave transducer over your chest wall, with a TEE the transducer is passed into the esophagus (your swallowing tube).

Is a transesophageal echocardiogram dangerous?

A transthoracic echocardiogram carries no risk. There’s a chance for slight discomfort when the electrodes are removed from your skin. This may feel similar to pulling off a Band-Aid. There’s a rare chance the tube used in a transesophageal echocardiogram may scrape the side of your esophagus and cause irritation.

How is a transesophageal echocardiography performed?

Transesophageal Echocardiogram Procedure The cardiologist may insert the probe in a patient who is either awake or under anesthesia. The airway is anesthetized by the topical anesthetic spray. The patient is placed on the left lateral side. The probe has to be well lubricated so that it passes through the mouth and throat smoothly without causing any damage.

What does echocardiography, transesophageal mean?

Transesophageal Echocardiography. Definition. Transesophageal echocardiography is a diagnostic test using an ultrasound device that is passed into the esophagus of the patient to create a clear image of the heart muscle and other parts of the heart.