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Learn About Conditions and Procedures

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors.

It is critical to have an entire team immediately available to provide care to an injured patient 24-hours a day. This teamwork starts at the scene of the injury where a coordinated, statewide pre-hospital medical system rapidly transports the injured patient from the scene to the hospital providing the appropriate level of care according to criteria established in the statewide trauma regulations. Once at the hospital, a complete team of surgeons, emergency physicians and nurses continue the life-saving treatment.

This team approach to care of the injured patient has had a dramatic impact on saving lives.

Minimally Invasive Procedures for Massive Bleeding

Injuries take many forms. The most advanced hospitals can treat injuries with a variety of approaches that involve well-known ones, like surgery, and newer ones where minimally invasive procedures can replace some surgeries.

As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Hartford Hospital has Interventional Radiologists as part of the Trauma Team. They perform procedures such as "embolization" which is a recognized interventional radiology technique that is used to treat trauma patients with massive bleeding.

Click here to see some of the advanced interventional techniques available at Hartford Hospital.

Learn more about trauma, or search below to learn about other health conditions.

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Transesophageal Echocardiography

Pronounced: Trans-e-sohf-ah-GE-al Eck-o-car-de-O-gra-fee

by Diana Kohnle

Definition | Reasons for Procedure | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor

Definition

Echocardiography uses sound waves (ultrasound) to make images of the heart. In transesophageal echocardiography, the ultrasound probe is passed down the throat in the esophagus, or food pipe. The esophagus sits very close to the heart. This method allows for clearer images of the heart than other methods.

Reasons for Procedure

This test is done to look for problems of the heart, including:

Enlarged heart
Thickening of the heart walls
Heart valve malfunction
Infection
Blood clots
Other conditions

Abnormal Heart Walls

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. You will be given light sedation for the procedure. Your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

Difficulty breathing
Abnormal heart rhythms
Bleeding or damage to the throat or esophagus

You may be at higher risk for complications if you:

Have throat problems
Had radiation therapy to the throat
Have a history of stomach ulcers or esophageal varices
Have strictures or narrowing of the esophagus
Have sleep apnea or severe respiratory disorders (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

What to Expect

Avoid alcohol for several days before the procedure. Alcohol may interfere with the type of sedative used.
Do not eat or drink for 4-8 hours before the procedure.

You will be given a mild sedative through an IV. You will be sleepy throughout the procedure. A topical anesthetic may also be applied to the back of the throat. This will numb the throat.

You will be asked to lie on your side in a hospital gown. The ultrasound probe will be slid down your throat and into the esophagus until it is near the heart. The device will create active images of the heart. When the imaging is done, the probe will be taken out.

15-30 minutes

There may be some mild discomfort during the procedure. Most patients sleep through the procedure and remember very little of it. Your throat may be sore for a few days.

You will need a ride home from the procedure. Do not eat or drink until the numbness in your throat wears off. This will keep you from inhaling food or drink into the lungs. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

Talk to your doctor about the results of the test.

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

Sore throat does not subside or worsens
Pain in the throat or chest develops
Difficulty breathing

In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away.

American Heart Association

http://www.americanheart.org/

Heart Disease

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/

Health Canada

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php/

Public Health Agency of Canada

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/

Griffin BP, Topol EJ. Manual of Cardiovascular Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Willkins; 2004.

Niedermeyer J, Daniel WG. Value of transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosis of diseases of native heart valves. Herz. 1993;18(6):329-340.

Pascoe RD, Oh JK, Warnes CA, Danielson GK, Tajik AJ, Seward JB. Diagnosis of sinus venosus atrial septal defect With transesophageal echocardiography. Circulation. 1996;94:1049-1055.

Last reviewed November 2012 by Michael J. Fucci, DO

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.