Transesophageal ultrasound is an examination that involves gently inserting a flexible tube with an echocardiographic crystal at the end. Located behind the heart, the esophagus is close to the left atrium. Thanks to this crystal, the specialist can visualize in great detail the heart and more precisely the heart valves.
It happens that classical transthoracic echocardiography does not answer the question asked, especially in stroke assessments, the evaluation of certain valve damage, or when endocarditis is suspected.
In this situation, the placement of an echocardiography probe in the esophagus makes it possible to obtain a better resolution of certain structures, and therefore a finer analysis. Transesophageal echocardiography also makes it possible to control the result of cardiac surgery directly in the operating room, or to guide certain percutaneous interventional cardiology procedures performed under general anesthesia (closure of FOP, TAVI, mitral or triscuspidal clip, transseptal puncture). This procedure is not very pleasant but not painful.
With the development of the interventional cardiology unit at the Clinique des Grangettes, the demand for such examinations is increasing. In partnership with intensive care, transesophageal echcardiograms can be performed under sedation by Drs. Ariane Testuz and Philippe Maziarski.
