TOE

[Andyb7612]

Hi can I ask anyone , what is TOE I keep reading mentioned on this forum and does everyone have it with an abalation

[Physalis]

Had to Google it. This is what it says

A trans-oesophageal echocardiogram (TOE - also called an echo) is a procedure to look at your heart chambers and valves using a flexible telescope placed down your oesophagus (gullet). The telescope has an ultrasound scanner attached to it so your heart specialist can get close-up views of your heart.

If you google trans-oesophageal echocardiogram you will get more information.

[Andyb7612 in reply to Physalis]

Thanks physalis yes I should have done that really before I put this question up lol..

[2018NSR in reply to Physalis]

It’s aSo called a TEE (transesophogeal echocardiogram). It is a tube advanced down your throat while sedated to rule out any clots behind the heart before a procedure such an ablation or surgical ablation is performed.

[Andyb7612 in reply to 2018NSR]

Hi thanks for the reply

[Poochmom in reply to 2018NSR]

Thanks for that. I knew I had one but wasn’t sure how it was done!!!!

[4874 in reply to 2018NSR]

Definitely called T.O.E.TUBE DOWN OESOPHAGUS TO VIEW BACK OF HEART SO trans oesophageal echo.not painful but if minimal sedation given is uncomfortable

[mjames1]

A TOE is an echo cardiogram looking from the inside to give a different, sometimes better look at the heart. I've had a few under conscious sedation and not a big deal. Also called a TEE.

Jim

[Andyb7612 in reply to mjames1]

Thanks Jim I take I they give everyone it then before an abalation

[mjames1 in reply to Andyb7612]

I had mine prior to electro cardioversions since I was not on thinners at the time. They used it to check for clots. I have heard it also used prior to ablations, but maybe someone with more ablation experience will comment.

Jim

[Ducky2003 in reply to Andyb7612]

No they dont give it everyone before an ablation. In fact, I would think it's quite rare to have before an ablation, unless they suspected a clot. Certainly it's more normal before a cardioversion, if you have not been anticoagulated.I had one in April but this was to see what was going on with my mitral valve.

[Andyb7612 in reply to Ducky2003]

Thanks ducky it does sound that not everyone has them after reading people's experiences ...

[Ducky2003 in reply to Andyb7612]

Hopefully you won't have to have one as it's not the most pleasurable experiences, especially without sedation. I did tell them, if anyone came near me with one of those things again, I would turn it into a colonoscopy on them.😊.

[Needalift in reply to Ducky2003]

I had one to see of anything else is wrong with valves etc before heart surgery

[Physalis in reply to mjames1]

I've had a couple of echocardiograms but just from the outside, not with a tube down my throat.

[mjames1 in reply to Physalis]

That would be a TTE (transthoracic echocardiogram) vs a TEE (or TOE) which are transesophageal echocardiograms. Those abbreviations can drive you nuts!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to mjames1]

TOE in UK because we spell it Oesophagus. The TOE enables the EP to look into the back of the heart.

[Andyb7612 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob

[mjames1 in reply to BobD]

Yes, that's why I mentioned "TOE" for the benefit of those who reside where they spell esophagus incorrectly

[BobD Volunteer in reply to mjames1]

America and England. Two countires divided by a common language I beleive Churchill once said.

[saulger in reply to BobD]

The "OE" is a representation of the diphthong ΟΙ (double vowel) in Greek.

[RobertTonkiss in reply to saulger]

Lol yanks are lazy in their spelling tend to phonetically spell things

[Andyb7612 in reply to Physalis]

Yeah ive had a couple of echocardiograms as well , it's the tube down the throat that sounds not so nice !!lol..

[Andyb7612 in reply to Physalis]

Hi again physalis , so have you had an abalation without a tube going down your throat for a scan to detect clots..

[Physalis in reply to Andyb7612]

Yes, that's right.

[Andyb7612 in reply to Physalis]

Oh right...I hope that's the case with me then ...all the best

[Lilypocket in reply to Andyb7612]

For my ablation on Wednesday they are giving me a CT scan instead. A relief as I choke easily lol

[Andyb7612 in reply to Lilypocket]

Hi lily pocket I am the same and have a dodgy jawbone that clicks all the time...I hope I can have a ct scan as well if I need a scan before my abalation...wishing you all the best for your abalation on Wednesday im sure it will go well ,

[Lilypocket in reply to Andyb7612]

Snap Andy! I have a clicking jawbone that sometimes gets stuck when Im lying down and the lower jaw falls backwards ( not very scientific my description but you may understand).When is your ablation and what type is it? X

[Andyb7612 in reply to Lilypocket]

I've been told mine will be a cyroabaltion either under general or more likely just sedation..its scheduled for next year but was told if they go with sedation it will be sooner rather than later for some reason .. so I am trying to get as much info on it as possible ..please let us know how you get on..

[Lilypocket in reply to Andyb7612]

Cool. I believe Cryro is usually done under sedation. If ( as another forum member said) you are anxious maybe a GA is the way to go. Don't wait too long if you decide to do it - it can be stressful. Of course you may not have a choice.I'll post at the end of the week all being well.

Take care x

[Andyb7612 in reply to Lilypocket]

Yes I will have it done as soon as they call me for it wether its sedation or general whichever they choose...take care and look forward to hearing from you when you are ready...all the best...

[Ducky2003 in reply to Andyb7612]

I don't think Lily is in the UK Andy so pre ablation procedures may be different. I would think it extremely unlikely for them to give you a TOE if you are to be given anticoagulants prior to your ablation, unless they suspect you have any other issues with your heart, in which case, they would do the TOE whether you were having an ablation or not.😊

[Andyb7612 in reply to Ducky2003]

Hi ducky thanks for the input...yeah that seems very feasible, the more I read into it , the more this seems to be the case ...all the best....

[pottypete1]

It is a camera down your throat this way they can get a very good picture from right behind your heart. This is to check for clots.

Don’t worry it is normally done prior to an ablation after you have been anaesthetised.

I did have one once where I wasn’t under GA not pleasant but they normally sedate you and those drugs have an amnesiac effect.

Pete

[Andyb7612 in reply to pottypete1]

Thanks Pete...im not on blood thinners but will be for four weeks upto and after the abalation. But I've read some people didn't have the camera down their throat first before the abalation which is intersting

[Lilypocket in reply to Andyb7612]

It may have been done while they were under general A so they weren't aware.

[Hidden]

Sorry, but they all wrong so you can tell they’re not medically trained! It’s something you will find on each foot and you should have ten of them! They stop your feet from fraying…….😉

[Andyb7612 in reply to Hidden]

Lol

[Cat04 in reply to Hidden]

No - it's where your feet have already frayed!

[Anon2023]

Hi. I’ve had lots of them. It involves putting a slim tube down your throat with a camera on the end. It feels a bit weird but the Midazolam they gave me before really helped. They also spray your throat to numb it. I think I fell asleep on a couple of occasions so it really couldn’t have been that bad as I’m a total wuss!! There was only one occasion when I was sick but other than that they are painless. If you do end up having one please try not to worry. Anyone who is carrying out a TOE will be highly trained and continually monitoring you to make sure you are ok.

[Andyb7612 in reply to Anon2023]

Thanks anon that is reassuring ...all the best

[fairgo45]

I've had two both before cardioversions I was sedated for the first one and told I wouldn't remember anything but I did.I struggled apparently and told them it felt like a garden hose being shoved down my throat which they said it pretty much was

The second I was put out with whatever that was Michael Jackson had given to him and I remembered nothing thank goodness it was probably just me.

[Paige70]

I had a cryoablation under sedation 5 years ago and didn’t have to have a TOE as I had been taking anticoagulants for over a month. I was very grateful as I can gag just cleaning my teeth! I think different hospitals have different policies.

[Andyb7612 in reply to Paige70]

Thanks im the same so I hope thats the situation for me as well

[Fibber222]

My consultant did one to get a better view of my heart. Valves etc. It’s being followed up by a standard echogram a year later. Mine was nothing to do with an ablation.

[Andyb7612 in reply to Fibber222]

Tha ks for that and all the best

[KMRobbo]

I did not have a TOE. I had been on A/C for 25 days prior to the ablation.

[Andyb7612 in reply to KMRobbo]

Thanks , hope that's the same for me as well... all the best....

[chesson]

I had a TOE before a cardioversion and a second one before ablation. The first one was administered without any sedation just a throat numbing gel. It was honestly the worst medical experience I have had. The urge to gag is unbearable but you can't with a large tube down your throat. You know if you do gag the whole process will be even longer or you won't get the CV afterwards if they can't verify you are clot-free. The second one was under full GA so was fine. Push for strong sedation if you can, it will make things much more supportable.

[mhoam]

Andyb7612, I suspect it will depend on your circumstances and the EP's preferences. I had a cryo-ablation at UHCW (Coventry) about 4 weeks but no TOE was used. I had been on Apixaban prior to the procedure so that could be a factor as well.

I have had Gastroscopies previously and they are very unpleasant

Good luck!

[Andyb7612 in reply to mhoam]

Thanks for the reply and all the best..

[spinningjenny]

I had a TOE prior to heart surgery. It gives a better view of the heart valves than a normal echo where the ribs tend to get in the way. Not had one before an ablation though. It’s not the most pleasant of procedures but it’s fairly brief.

[Andyb7612 in reply to spinningjenny]

Hi there so you had an abalation without one then

[spinningjenny]

Yes, I’ve had two ablations and didn’t have a TOE for either. I don’t really see why one would be necessary.

[rubyr61]

i have had this done i was the first one at glenfield hospital to have it done without sedation a little strange but worth it and they showed me after what they was looking at ,worth it

[rubyr61 in reply to rubyr61]

i had mine done before my mitra valve replacement back in 2003

[Andyb7612 in reply to rubyr61]

Hi thanks for the reply...I have read a story on here by someone who said the tube is as thick as a hose pipe ?? I certainly hope that's not the case ....

[rubyr61 in reply to Andyb7612]

not quite but you dont feel it they frease your thorth first .sorry bad day for spelling

[dougpowell44]

Had mine the day before my ablation, a little uncomfortable but gives them a sneak peek for any possible clots before the ablation I was told.

[Andyb7612 in reply to dougpowell44]

Hi there thanks for the reply...

[lovetogarden]

I had one immediately before my last ablation. But they did it under some sort of anesthesia, no recollection of the procedure at all, thank goodness!