What is a TEE?
In a standard echocardiogram, the probe sits on the outside of the chest and the sound waves must travel through skin, muscle and ribs. In a transesophageal echocardiogram, a much smaller probe is passed down the food pipe (oesophagus), which lies directly behind the heart.
Because there is nothing in the way, the pictures are far clearer — particularly of the structures at the back of the heart, the atrial septum and the valves.
When it is used
What happens
The child is given general anaesthesia or deep sedation, so they are asleep and feel nothing. A slim, flexible probe is gently passed into the oesophagus, the images are taken, and the probe is removed. It usually takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Very often the TEE and the device closure happen in the same session under a single anaesthetic, so the child goes to sleep once.
Preparation and recovery
Your child will need to fast beforehand — we will give exact timings. Afterwards they will wake in recovery and may have a mildly sore throat for a day. Most children go home the same day unless a procedure was also performed.