TEE Transducers
HD11 XE Getting Started
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Special Considerations for TEE Examinations
Special considerations regarding TEE exams are advisable for patients with exist-
ing gastroesophageal abnormalities, such as esophageal varices, hiatal hernia,
tumor, diverticula, esophageal webs and rings, fistulae, or peptic ulcers, as well as
for patients who have had anti-reflux procedures. In addition, you should do the
following:
• Consider the patient’s size and ability to accommodate the transducer tip and
shaft.
•Check the patient’s history for gastroesophageal disease or difficulty swallow-
ing.
• Evaluate the potential overall effects of any treatment that the patient is
undergoing, such as mediastinal radiation, chemotherapy, anticoagulation, or
steroid therapy.
• Be aware that you may discover unsuspected esophageal pathology during an
exam. Be alert for congenital problems with the esophagus or stomach, par-
ticularly with pediatric patients.
• When examining a patient with an above-normal temperature, use the
Auto-Cool feature and enter the patient temperature. The Auto-Cool feature
is described in “Entering the Patient Temperature” on page 230.
This list is not comprehensive. Rather, it suggests areas to investigate when con-
sidering TEE for a particular patient.
Preparing Patients for a TEE Examination
These suggestions for pre-exam patient preparation do not constitute an exhaus-
tive list of all possible factors to explore before performing transesophageal
echocardiography, nor do they imply medical protocols. Instead, they reflect basic
guidelines resulting from extensive consultation with physicians throughout the
design, development, and clinical investigation periods of Philips TEE transducers.
•In addition to gathering routine background information such as current med-
ication and allergies, investigate any history of chronic obstructive lung dis-
ease, esophageal strictures, varices, or bleeding.
• Thoroughly explain the procedure to the patient before the exam.
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