The Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan > Health Services > Diagnostic Services > Cardiopulmonary Diagnostic Services > Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)

​Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)​

Transesophageal Echocardiogram is a diagnostic procedure in which a tube with a tiny ultrasound probe is inserted through the patient's mouth and pictures of the heart are obtained using sound waves. The procedure is performed by an experienced cardiologist.

Live 3D TEE helps the doctor to accurately visualize the heart functions of the heart in real time. ​

  • An advance appointment must be made. 

  • Bring your doctor's prescription to the appointment. 

  • Do not eat or drink anything on the day of the test. If the test is in the afternoon, take your morning medicines as usual. If the test is the morning, do not take your routine medicines.

  • You should make arrangements for a family member or friend to take you home since it is likely you will receive sedating medications.​

Your throat will be sprayed with an anaesthetic solution to numb it and you may be given an intravenous sedative as well. The TEE tube will be inserted into your mouth and through the food pipe and stomach.

After the test, you should not eat or drink anything for 4 hours, should not drive or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours.

You may feel some soreness in the throat for 1 or 2 days after the test​