Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
| Cardiology Network |
 Discuss Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) further in the WikiDoc Cardiology Network |
| Adult Congenital |
|---|
| Biomarkers |
| Cardiac Rehabilitation |
| Congestive Heart Failure |
| CT Angiography |
| Echocardiography |
| Electrophysiology |
| Cardiology General |
| Genetics |
| Health Economics |
| Hypertension |
| Interventional Cardiology |
| MRI |
| Nuclear Cardiology |
| Peripheral Arterial Disease |
| Prevention |
| Public Policy |
| Pulmonary Embolism |
| Stable Angina |
| Valvular Heart Disease |
| Vascular Medicine |
Editors-In-Chief: Eli V. Gelfand, MD (A), Anne B. Riley, MD (B)
A. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
B. Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Overview
A specialized probe containing an ultrasound transducer at its tip is passed into the patient's esophagus. This allows image and Doppler evaluation which can be recorded. This is known as a transesophageal echocardiogram, or TEE (TOE in the United Kingdom). The advantage of TEE over TTE is usually clearer images, especially of structures that are difficult to view transthoracicly (through the chest wall). The explanation for this is the heart rests directly upon the esophagus leaving only millimeters in distance that the ultrasound beam has to travel. This reduces the attenuation (weakening) of the ultrasound signal, generating a stronger return signal, ultimately enhancing image and Doppler quality. Comparatively, transthoracic ultrasound must first traverse skin, fat, ribs and lungs before reflecting off the heart and back to the probe before an image can be created. All these structures, and the distance the beam must travel, attenuate the ultrasound signal, degrading image and Doppler quality.
In adults, several structures can be evaluated and imaged better with the TEE, including the aorta, pulmonary artery, valves of the heart, both atria, atrial septum, left atrial appendage, and coronary arteries. While TTE can be performed quickly, easily and without pain to the patient, TEE requires a fasting patient, a team of medical personel, takes longer to perform, is uncomfortable for the patient and has some risks associated with the procedure (esophageal perforation--1 in 10,000, and adverse reactions to the medication).
Before inserting the probe, conscious sedation is induced with the patient to ease the discomfort of the individual and to decrease the gag reflex, thus making the ultrasound probe easier to pass into the esophagus. Conscious sedation is a light sedation usually using the medications midazolam (a benzodiazepine with sedating, amnesiac qualities) and fentanyl. Sometimes a local anesthetic spray is used for the back of the throat, such a xylocaine and/or a jelly/lubricant anesthetic for the esophagus. Children are anesthetized. Unlike the TTE, the TEE is considered an invasive procedure and is thus performed by physicians in the U.S., not sonographers.
To insert the TEE probe, the probe is placed in the patient’s mouth through a bite block (to protect the $30,000 TEE probe), and then passed down the patient's throat when they swallow, preventing inadvertent placement into the trachea. Although the placement of the pinky-wide transducer is uncomfortable, there are very few complications with gagging from the patient once the transducer is in the correct location.
Standard views of Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
Esophageal Position
Four-Chamber Plane
- Location: high trans-esophageal position, probe posterior to the left atrium at 0 degrees rotation, angle transducer toward the left ventricular apex
- View
- Lateral wall and inferior segments of left ventricle. Apparent apex may be a more proximal segment of anterior wall
- Anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets
- Assess the size, shape, systolic function of the RV by turning the probe towards the patient's right
Two-Chamber Plane
- Location: with LV apex in center of image in four chamber view, rotate probe 60 degrees
- View
- Inferior and anterior LV walls
- Rotation to 90 degrees shows LA appendage
Long-Axis Left Ventricular Plane
- Location: with high trans-esophageal positioning, posterior to left atrium, rotate image plane 120 degrees
- View
- Proximal ascending aorta, sinuses of Valsalva, right and non coronary leaflets of the aortic valve, anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets
- Good view for evaluating ascending aortic dissection, subaortic membrane, supracristal VSD, sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, aortic valve vegetations and abscess formation
Short-Axis Plane
- Location: withdraw the probe to the level of the aortic valve and rotate the image plane to between 30 and 45 degrees
- View
- Visualization of detailed aortic anatomy including 3 leaflets and sinuses of valsalva and the origin of the L main coronary artery
- Interatrial septum and fossa ovalis are well seen
Gastric Position
Short-Axis Plane
- Location: with probe in tip of the stomach, flex the scope superiorly
- View
- Global LV systolic function and global LV function can be evaluated
- May obtain a view of the mitral valve by withdrawing the transducer towards the esophagus
Two-Chamber Plane
- Location: in the transgastric position, rotate the image plane to the 90 degree position, then turn the probe towards the patient's right
- View
- Right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle
- Can occasionally see RVOT and pulmonic valve
Transgastric Apical Position
Four-Chamber Plane
- Location: from transgastric short axis view, transducer is advanced further into the fungus
- View: apical four chamber, allows for doppler interrogation of LV outflow tract and valve
Long-Axis Plane
- Location: from transgastric apical four chamber plane, rotate the image to 120 degrees
- View: LVOT, allows doppler of the LVOT and aortic velocities
Descending Thorasic Aorta
- By rotating proble from the transesophageal or transgastric position until the image is directed just left of the patients spine, can visualize a short axis view of the thorasic aorta
- Useful for evaluation of aortic dissection, aneurysms and atheromas
References
External links
- SeeMyHeart Patient Information on Echocardiograms (Heart Ultrasounds)
- American Society of Echocardiography
- Stress Test with Echocardiography
- Echocardiography information
- Coronary heart disease and echocardiography
- Echocardiography Resources & Simple echocardiography tutorials
- Atlas of Echocardiography
- E-chocardiography: Internet Journal of Cardiac Ultrasound
- Basic introduction to echocardiography
- Basic information about echocardiography
- 3D Echocardiography
- VIRTUAL TEE