ABSTRACT
Following successful insertion into the patient’s esophagus, the operator manipulates the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe to obtain the desired cross-sectional images of the heart (1). Because of variation in the anatomic relationship between the esophagus and the heart, manipulation must be individualized and based on the images that unfold on the echo system’s display. Moreover, unlike comprehensive transthoracic imaging, where a systematic approach is generally preferred, a TEE study should be tailored to address the clinical question first, followed by the acquisition of other standard views and Doppler information. This initial targeted approach is prudent to ensure that the TEE study is diagnostic in the event that the examination must be terminated quickly or postponed due to patient discomfort or clinical instability (2).
