Preparing for your Transesophageal www.hrh.ca ...

1 ProgramPreparing for your Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)Why is a Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) done?We may do a Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) to find: Any congenital or birth defects, heart valve disease or heart muscle disease How an artificial valve is working Any blood clots in your heart Any infection in your heart Possible heart-related causes of stroke How blood flows through the heart and do I prepare for the TEE?A FEW DAYS BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE: Ask your doctor what medicines you should or should not take before your TEE.

2 You will receive sedation during the test. Arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure. You will not be able to drive a motorized vehicle for 18 to 24 NIGHT BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE: If your procedure is in the morning, please do not eat or drink after midnight, before the procedure. Otherwise, do not eat or drink anything at least 6 hours before your procedure. If you do need to take any medicine before the test, take them with small sips of THE DAY OF THE PROCEDURE: Wear comfortable clothes. Leave all jewelry and valuables at home.

3 Bring your health card and a photo ID. Your doctor will review the procedure with you and then ask you to sign a consent form. You will need to sign this form before we can proceed with the # 002007 2012_05 REV 2016_02We are doing a Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) to get a closer and clearer look at your heart. To do this test, we will position a TEE probe inside your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach). This test allows your doctor to see: The structure of the heart, such as shape, size and movement The structure of the aorta, the main blood vessels supplying the heart, the heart valves and other structures inside your you are in the hospital, the nurse will speak with your doctor about the medicines you need to take before the on back of page.

4 Please turn more information:Your doctor will speak with you about the risks and benefits of TEE. If you have any questions or concerns about this procedure, please speak to your doctor or nurse, or contact: Cardiology Clinic, Humber River Hospital Tel: (416) 242-1000 ext. 47000 2016 Humber River Hospital. All rights reserved. The information provided in this handout is for educational purposes. It does not replace the advice or specific instructions from your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat.

5 If you have questions about your own care, please speak with your healthcare : This information is important! If you have trouble reading this, ask someone to help : Queste informazoni sono importanti! Se ha difficolt a leggere questo, chieda aiuto a : Esta informaci n es importante! Si tiene dificultad en leer esto, pida que alguien le can I expect during my TEE?We will apply a throat spray to numb the back of your throat. This will prevent you from gagging during the will place a bite block (a small piece of plastic with a hole in the middle) between your teeth.

6 This allows your mouth to stay open during the nurse will place an (intravenous line) in your arm. We will give you a sedative through this line to help you relax and feel doctor will place a tube, called a TEE probe, gently down your esophagus until it is behind your heart. We will ask you to swallow the probe to help move it down your esophagus. This tube will not affect your TEE probe has a camera that we will use to take pictures of your heart. During the test, we will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and long is the TEE?

7 This test takes about approximately 45 can I expect after my TEE? The nurse will watch you closely and check your breathing, blood pressure and pulse right after the procedure. You may be ready to go home or back into your room in the hospital after about 1 hour. Because of the throat spray we gave you during the procedure, you will not be able to swallow properly for about 2 hours after your TEE. You will not be able to eat or drink during this time. You may have a sore throat or a hoarse voice for 48 hours after the test. It may be helpful to use lozenges or take regular strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) to relieve the A shows a Transesophageal echocardiography probe in the esophagus, which is located behind the heart.

8 Sound waves from the probe create high-quality pictures of the heart. Figure B shows an echocardiogram of the heart's lower and upper chambers (ventricles and atrium, respectively).Image Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Institutes of Health; Department of Health and Human Services