Transoesophageal Doppler echocardiography (TEE) - the examination of the heart with the help of ultrasound, by using an endoscopic ultrasound probe. This allows more precise visualisation of heart anatomy, morphology and structures, which cannot be sufficiently evaluated during standard echocardiography.
These examinations of the world class are made possible thanks to the newest achievement of medical technology manufacturer General Electric - ultrasound device Vivid E95.
Indications:
Suspected endocarditis, if transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is not informative;
Endocarditis with possible paravalvular abscess;
Evaluation of valve morphology and functions, if TTE is not sufficiently informative;
Evaluation of perioperative heart valve anatomy and functions;
Suspected dysfunction of valve prosthesis (especially mitral valve prosthesis);
Suspected aortic dissection;
For exclusion of thrombi in atrial auriculae prior to electrocardioversion or invasive electrophysiological procedures;
Evaluation of intracardiac lesion;
Specification of potential cardioemboly in customers with brain circulation disorder of unclear origin;
Specification of atrial septal defect anatomy;
Echocardiography examination of the heart in customers with thoracic defect (traumas, injuries).
Advantages:
The possibility of assessing atrial auricles, auxiliary structures on prosthetic valves, as well as the anatomy of sinus venosus type atrial septum defect;
The device ensures excellent image quality for the patients with high body mass index and certain lung diseases (HOPS, emphysema) as well, in whom precise detection of changes in the heart and blood vessels can otherwise be unlikely;
Transoesophageal echocardiography can be used to monitor percutaneous invasive therapy of structural heart diseases (for instance, atrial septal defect or closure of patent foramen ovale, balloon valvuloplasty of the mitral valve or cusp clipping, percutaneous transluminal or transapical implantation of aortic valve prosthesis, etc.) or the procedure of surgical therapy of the heart.
Contraindications:
Obstruction of oesophagus and pharyngeal space;
Perforation of oesophagus or suspected perforation thereof;
Oesophageal diverticulum;
Bleeding from a part of the upper gastrointestinal tract;
Instability of cervical vertebrae.
Do not eat and drink at east five hours prior to examination. If the examination is scheduled in the morning – have only light supper in the evening.
The examination is performed without an anaesthesia, however, an anaesthetic is previously sprayed into the throat of the customer, which facilitates the swallowing of the probe. Then the probe is carefully entered into the oesophagus.
Important: only highly qualified physicians may perform the examination - cardiologists, who have been trained to use this method.
