What is a Trans-oesophageal Echocardiogram (TOE)?

What is a transesophageal echocardiogram? Transesophageal echocardiogram is a study whereby we get a closer look at the heart. The main type of echocardiogram is a transthoracic echocardiogram where we put the probe on the front of the chest and can have a look at the heart, but that can be limited and it can be difficult in certain people. And of course there are structures in the heart which are further away from the probe if you're putting the probe on the front of the chest. So a transesophageal echocardiogram is similar to an endoscopy in that you put a probe in through the mouth down the swallowing tube. The swallowing tube sits very close to the back of the heart, so it allows us to see those structures a lot more clearly and really what's happening with the valves and in the atria in a lot more detail. And that's why a transesophageal echocardiogram is usually requested, is to have a look at what's happening in the valves and look at them in a lot more detail. We can get really nice pictures, really nice 3D pictures of the valves to identify any particular problems. Thank you.