TRANSOESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY (TOE)

This procedure is similar in theory to that of the trans-thoracic (or standard) echocardiography except that it required insertion of a ultrasound probe into the oesophagus down to the stomach. The procedure usually only lasted for few minutes and carries little complications.

PREPARATION

The patient will need to be fasted and under light sedation (put to sleep) to facilitate the insertion of the probe.

REASONS FOR TOE

Transoesophageal Echocardiography provides a much better image of the heart as the ultrasound beam do not need to pass through the skin, fat and lung before scanning the heart. This method is particularly useful for the imaging of the valves of the heart, the aorta and septal defects.