Cardiac ultrasound with transducer placed in oesophagus for high-resolution imaging
Expansion
Transoesophageal Echocardiogram
Purpose
Superior image quality; evaluates posterior cardiac structures, endocarditis, patent foramen ovale, and intraoperative assessment
Clinical Context
TOE (British) equals TEE (American). Requires sedation or anaesthesia. Closer proximity to heart enables higher-frequency transducers (5 to 7 megahertz) and superior images.
Related Terms
- TTE
- TEE
Key Points
- TOE bypasses chest wall and lungs; excellent for prosthetic valves, endocarditis, and intraoperative monitoring