Transesophageal echocardiography

Abstract

Transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is a specialised echo application that is frequently utilised by cardiologists and also by surgeons, anaesthesiologists and intensivists for quick decision making, monitoring and guiding operative procedures, interventions, and managing critically ill patients. It is the term used to describe the study of the heart from the oesophagus using two-dimensional, three-dimensional, M-mode or Doppler echocardiography. The clinical application of TOE continues to grow, and the indications, diagnostic utility and related issues of this application are discussed briefly here. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.