Clinical Features of Complications From Transesophageal Echocardiography: A Single-Center Case Series of 10,000 Consecutive Examinations

Abstract

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is an essential diagnostic tool that has gained widespread use in clinical cardiology. It is considered reasonably noninvasive and safe; however, insertion and operation of the TEE probe may cause hypopharyngeal, esophageal, or gastric trauma. The current study reports a single-center experience of esophagogastric trauma in 10,000 consecutive TEE examinations. TEE examinations were performed by 9 attending physicians who were trained in endoscopic procedures and had been performing TEE studies for at least 1 year. One case of hypopharyngeal perforation (0.01%), 2 cases of cervical esophageal perforation (0.02%), and no cases of gastric perforation (0%) occurred after TEE examination. No fatalities (0%) occurred. We describe the clinical characteristics of individuals who experienced esophageal perforation during this 10-year period. This single-center study demonstrates that TEE examinations are associated with a very low risk of esophagogastric trauma when performed in a safe setting by experienced operators.