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

22940248 0909

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.