Transesophageal Echocardiography

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Indications 2 Procedure 3 More General Terms 4 References

Indications

• visualization of heart valves*

• rule out endocarditis
• prosthetic valve dysfunction

• aortic disease
• left atrial thrombus [3]

• * sensitivity of TEE is far greater than transthoracic echocardiography ( TTE) for visualizing heart valves

• TEE can detect vegetations as small as 1.0-1.5 mm
• TTE can detect vegetations as small as 2-3 mm [2]

Procedure

• 
  

• Advantages:

• high-quality images, especially of posterior cardiac structures
• most accurate test for evaluation of:

• endocarditis
• prosthetic heart valves
• left atrial thrombus [3]
  

• Disadvantages:

• requires esophageal intubation, typically with conscious sedation [3]

More General Terms

• echocardiography
• endoscopic ultrasound

References

1. Manual of Medical Therapeutics, 28th ed, Ewald & McKenzie (eds), Little, Brown & Co, Boston, 1995, pg 128
2. Geriatrics Review Syllabus, American Geriatrics Society, 5th edition, 2002-2004
3. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 15, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2009
4. National Guideline Clearinghouse Practice guidelines for perioperative transesophageal echocardiography. An updated report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Task Force on Transesophageal Echocardography. ngc-guideline: [1]

transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)