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Patients & Visitors

Cardiac Centre Clinics

Transoesophageal ECHO

This test is used when a closer look at the heart is needed. Detailed pictures of the heart are taken from the oesophagus (gullet), which lies behind the heart.

You may have a mild sedative to help you relax and an anaesthetic will be sprayed on the back of your throat. You will be asked to swallow a flexible tube with an ultrasound probe on the tip.

While the probe is in your oesophagus, it takes pictures of your heart. Once the procedure is over the tube is then taken out.

Who is suitable for this test :

  • Patients for whom TTE has not yielded sufficient information
  • Referral for a TOE is only accepted from a Consultant Cardiologist. A TOE gives better images than TTE of Thrombus, valves and vegetations because the transducer is nearer the heart

TOE gives better images than TTE of Thrombus, valves and vegetations because the transducer is nearer the heart.

  • The test is done at present by Dr. Augustine assisted by a Nurse and a Cardiac Physiologist
  • Details of the procedure can be found in the A Patient's Guide to Transoesophageal ECHO (TOE)
  • Patients should be prepared to stay for 1 - 2 hours after the procedure

TOEs take place on the Cardiac Day Case Unit B56, Second floor. Telephone 01225 82 5394

Weekly - Thursday.

Patients are referred for the procedure by a Consultant Cardiologist. Appointments are sent by post to the TOE booking Coordinator 01225 826134.

Please note that patients should arrange to be escorted home and should not drive until the following day.

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