TEE transesophageal echocardiogram

What is TEE?

If a standard echocardiogram is unclear due to an obstruction, it may be necessary to perform a transesophageal echocardiogram. With TEE, the back of the throat is anesthetized and a scope is inserted. On the end of the scope is an ultrasonic device that a cardiologist will guide down to the lower part of the esophagus, where it is used to obtain a clearer, two-dimensional echocardiogram of the heart.

Advantages

The advantage of TEE over TTE is usually clearer images, especially of structures that are difficult to view transthoracically (through the chest wall). The explanation for this is that the heart rests directly upon the esophagus leaving only millimeters 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, along with the increased distance the beam must travel, weaken the ultrasound signal thus degrading the 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. TEE has a very high sensitivity for locating a blood clot inside the left atrium.