What sort of preparation do you need to have a Trans-Oesophageal Echo done?

Dr. Kanigan-Igham, you're having a transesophageal echocardiogram. What sort of preparation do you need to do? Ideally you should be fasted for six hours beforehand, so no food at all for six hours before. You can have clear fluids from six hours up to two hours prior to the procedure. Obviously if we're putting a probe in through the mouth down the swallowing tube, there's the possibility of stomach contents coming out, so we like to keep people near by mouth for six hours prior to the procedure. And then after the procedure, of course, because we tend to give some sedation, we'd like the patient to be able to rest for at least a couple of hours afterwards, and usually have someone to take them home, because obviously the slight effects of the sedation will linger on slightly, so it's better to have someone home, someone to take you home. Thank you.