TEE Article Summary

Last week during my mentorship, I had the unique opportunity to observe a TEE (Transesophageal Echocardiogram).  Upon further research from this particular article, I discovered that a TEE uses high-frequency sound waves to produce a graphic outline of the heart.  A TEE is used on patients for the purpose of looking at the heart’s valves and chambers to check for any abnormalities, without any interference from the lungs or ribs.  For the procedure, the doctor inserts a lubricated endoscope into the mouth, down the throat and into the esophagus.  The patient is awake during this procedure; however they are drowsy from relaxing medication.  The doctor then controls the endoscope and maneuvers it to get the best pictures and readings needed.  The entire procedure takes about an hour and provides telling pictures of the heart.  When I observed the TEE, Dr.Westmoreland showed me pictures of the heart and pointed out where she had discovered a hole in the patient’s heart.  This only proves that TEEs are very important tests for cardiologists to administer to patients, in order to give an early diagnosis of a problem in the heart.  It was a very intriguing and miraculous procedure to observe. Modern medicine never fails to amaze me.

Cleveland Clinic. "Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)." Cleveland Clinic. Health Hub, 10 Aug. 2009. Web. 28 Oct. 2012.