How do doctors perform transesophageal echocardiogram?

Swallow tube: The transducer, which is like a camera, is passed through your mouth down into the esphagus and positioned at the back of the heart. Because the back of the heart rests agains the esophagus, there is less in the way so that the images are much clearer than if they are taken through the chest wall. The patinet is sedated just as if we were looking into the stomach or esophagus.

Esophageal probe : Transesophageal echocardiograms are performed under moderate sedation or during surgery under general anesthesia. A long tube-like ultrasound probe is place into the mouth and down the esophagus. Various views of the heart are obtained to evaluate its function, valves, anatomy, etc. Patient may have some sore throat after the procedure.