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

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.