Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a type of heart ultrasound that gives veterinarians or cardiologists a very detailed view of a pet’s heart. Unlike regular heart ultrasounds, where the probe is placed on the chest, TEE involves inserting a small probe into the pet’s esophagus (the tube connecting the throat and stomach). This enables the examiners get closer to the heart, allowing for clearer and more accurate images.
When might a pet need a TEE?
Before Heart Surgery:
TEE is used before surgeries, such as V-clamp surgery or mitral valve repair, to get precise measurements of the heart valves. Before the V-clamp surgery, surgeons use the measurements from the TEE to choose the right size of the V-clamp device. TEE can also help detect valve problems that regular ultrasounds might miss.
To Check for Birth Defects:
TEE can be used to find heart defects that are present from birth, like holes in the heart or other issues that might not be easy to see with regular ultrasounds.
During Surgery:
During certain heart surgeries, TEE is used to give the surgical team real-time pictures of the heart. This helps them guide their decisions while working on the heart.
Risks of TEE:
In general, TEE is a safe procedure. Since it involves placing a probe into the esophagus, pets need to be placed under general anesthesia for a short duration (about 30 minutes). Although all anesthesia carries some risks, these are carefully managed by an anesthesiology team to ensure the safety of the pets during the procedure.
