Definition
A transesophageal echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan without any radiations that creates moving pictures of the heart. A small probe is used to send out high-frequency sound waves. The probe here is a thin tube the size of your index finger. It passes through your mouth, down your throat and into your oesophagus. The oesophagus is very close to the posterior chambers of the heart. This allows clearer images of those heart structures and valves than would be obtained with a standard echocardiogram.
Leaflet
This leaflet will explain how to prepare and what to expect during a transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE).