Transesophageal echo

A Transesophageal echo (TEE) is a type of echocardiogram that uses a long tube with a special microphone-like device mounted on one end.

The tube is passed through the mouth and throat and then down the esophagus (organ that connects the throat to the stomach, located directly behind the heart). This allows the imaging part of the transesophageal echo to be placed in close proximity to the heart and enables the doctor to obtain high-quality images of the heart and the heart valves.

During TEE, the mouth and throat usually are sprayed with numbing medicine and patients are given a sedative to help them relax. This procedure is able to detect more than 90% of heart valve infections.