Category
Diagnostic Imaging Cardiology
Typical Use
High resolution cardiac imaging and intraoperative hemodynamic assessment.
Description
A flexible ultrasound probe designed for insertion into the esophagus to obtain high resolution, real time images of cardiac structures, valves, and great vessels from close proximity to the heart, enabling detailed assessment of ventricular function, valvular pathology, intracardiac thrombus, and aortic disease. TEE probes are used in operating rooms, intensive care units, and catheterization labs for intraoperative monitoring during cardiac surgery, guidance of structural interventions, and evaluation of unexplained hemodynamic instability. Probe manipulation requires sedation or anesthesia, strict infection control cleaning between uses, and operator expertise to interpret multiplane images and Doppler flow data. Contraindications, such as esophageal pathology, must be considered and airway protection ensured during use.