Transthoracic Echocardiogram Tests

What Is a Transthoracic Echocardiogram?

Transthoracic echocardiograms or transesophageal echocardiograms (also known as echo, TTE, TEE, and heart ultrasound) are imaging tests that look specifically at the structure of your heart and its valves.

It can be ordered from Advanced Heart And Vascular Center of New Mexico if you're having symptoms that might be due to structural damage or congenital anomalies.

Symptoms you can experience that could lead to the order of this test are chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, or dizziness.

What Are the Two Different Types of Echocardiograms?

The first type is the Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE). This is performed while lying flat on your back. There's a machine with a screen and a handheld probe.

The technician will rub ultrasound gel on your chest and run the probe around your chest picking up sound waves from your heart.

Images will appear on the screen that will show the technician the structure of your heart valves along with the strength that your heart Is pumping. This test runs for 15-20 minutes. 

The second type is called a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). This is performed when you cannot get clear imaging from the transthoracic echocardiogram due to a heavier body set or other limitations.

The transesophageal echocardiogram is done while laying on your side. A small probe is guided down your throat by the cardiologist along with a technician.

The probe, just like the probe from the TTE, takes images of your heart and its structure from within your body. This test can take around 20-30 minutes.