ABSTRACT

The use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has expanded tremendously since its introduction into clinical use in the mid-1970s. TEE is used daily in the echocardiography laboratory, the operating rooms, and also the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Its usefulness derives from its high capacity for both diagnosis and monitoring. Ultrasound studies are considered noninvasive procedures when performed from the thoracic surface (transthoracic tomographic views) and minimally invasive when performed from the esophagus (transesophageal tomographic views).