Before cardioversion, you may need a test called a TEE (transesophageal echocardiography). During this test, you swallow a small ultrasound device. This lets the health care team look inside your heart atria for blood clots. If blood clots are found, you may need blood thinners* before cardioversion. This will help reduce your stroke risk.
Intraoperative TEE use has been shown to improve outcomes and reduce mortality in high-risk cardiac surgery patients, particularly those undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), valve, and aortic surgeries.
If your doctor gives you the medication, you may need to take it for three to four weeks before the procedure. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is often used to check for the presence of blood clots before this procedure.
The procedure is done in a cath lab at a hospital or medical clinic. Before the procedure, a nurse will put an IV line into a vein in your arm so you can get medication to help you relax.
The test usually lasts one to four hours. If the type and location of the abnormal heart rhythm is identified and an appropriate therapy decided, cardiac ablation or insertion of a pacemaker or ICD may be performed during or right after the EP study.
Catheter ablation, also called radiofrequency ablation, is a procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to destroy a small area of heart tissue that is causing rapid and irregular heartbeats.
Also called a stress test or treadmill test, exercise testing can provide valuable information in people with valvular heart disease, especially in those whose symptoms may be difficult to assess.
Learn more about cardiac medications that you may need to take after your procedure to prevent complications and to put you on the best path for recovery. Learn more about stents.
This test is used to trigger your symptoms while your health care team is watching. They measure your blood pressure and heart rate during the test to find out what’s causing your symptoms.
