What is transesophageal echocardiography?

Also known as: TEE.

Unlike a standard echocardiogram, the echo transducer that produces the sound waves for transesophageal echo or TEE is attached to a thin tube that passes through your mouth, down your throat and into your esophagus. Because the esophagus is so close to the upper chambers of the heart, very clear images of those heart structures and valves can be obtained.

Most TEEs are performed during cardiac surgery or cardiac catheterization to assist the procedure.

---

Reviewed by: Nao Sasaki, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM