What is TOE ??

[PaMaGra]

Hi reading some of the posts found TOE this was on my discharge letter along with other abbreviations after my RF Ablation and wondered what it meant.

Can anyone enlighten me? Thank you.

[Hidden]

Hello PaMaGra, I'm sure you wont mind a little lesson in self help, but if you were to type "TOE" in the Search AF Association box, top right of this page, all will be revealed.

It's a Trans Oesophegeal Echocardiogram which is a device fed down your throat to detect any nasty blood clots lurking in your heart. Very common with ablations and can cause a sore throat for a short while, but well worth the discomfort because if one became dislodged during the procedure, it could result in a stroke.

[PaulaEKing in reply to Hidden]

I had one of those. same time as they did the cardioversion. What a waste of time that was, although, I guess it was worth the go. They need to do that TOE thing first I think.

[Hidden in reply to PaulaEKing]

Oh yesssss.....I assume you mean the CV didn't last long Paula?

[Hidden in reply to PaulaEKing]

I would just add that if there is a small clot cardioversion can dislodge it sending it through the circulatory system possibly lodging in the lungs or the brain. If a clot is detected on TOE they won't do the cardioversion until you are sufficiently anticoagulated. (Called TEE in the US).

[PaMaGra in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[PaMaGra in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Flapjack I came across the answer quite by chance looking through past replies, and thank you.