Children's Hospital is part of the UPMC family.
Our Sites
Be safe anytime, anywhere.
To find a pediatrician or pediatric specialist, please call 412-692-7337 or search our directory.
A resource for our network of referring physicians.
For more information about research, please call our main office at 412-692-6438.
Ranked #6 Nationally by U.S. News & World Report.
At UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh we believe parents and guardians can contribute to the success of this test, and we invite you to participate. Please read the following information to learn about the test and how you can help.
A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is an important type of echocardiogram that uses “ultrasound” or high-frequency sound waves that echo or “bounce” off the heart to create pictures of the beating heart on a television screen. It gives doctors valuable information about the physical structure of the heart and how well it is working. Using a small wand that is passed down the throat into the esophagus, the TEE provides a direct view of the heart without the ribs and breastbone in the way. The pictures then are recorded onto a computer.
Your child’s doctor may order a TEE to:
When sedation is needed, there are important rules for eating and drinking that must be followed the night before and the day of the test. One business day before your child’s procedure, you will receive a call from a surgery nurse between 1 and 9 p.m. (Surgery nurses do not make these phone calls on weekends or holidays.) Please have paper and a pen ready to write down these instructions.
The TEE is done by a cardiology doctor who specializes in the care of patients with heart problems. It is done under sedation because your child needs to be very calm for it. Although not fully asleep, your child will not feel any pain during the test or remember it afterwards.
During the test, your child’s heart rate, rhythm, breathing and blood pressure will be checked carefully. The test takes about 30 minutes and the pictures taken of the heart will be recorded so a doctor can look at them later.
The most important thing parents can do is to keep their child as relaxed as possible before the test.
As soon as the TEE is done, your child will be moved to a recovery room until the effects of anesthesia begin to wear off. You will be called to the recovery room so that you can be there as he or she wakes up. You can help by talking softly and touching your child so he or she knows you are there.
If your child has any special needs or health issues you feel the doctor needs to know about, please call the Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s Hospital before the test and ask to speak with a nurse. It is important to notify us in advance about any special needs your child might have.
Locations
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
With myCHP, you can request appointments, review test results, and more.
For questions about a hospital bill call:
To pay your bill online, please visit UPMC's online bill payment system.
Interested in giving to Children's Hospital? Support the hospital by making a donation online, joining our Heroes in Healing monthly donor program, or visiting our site to learn about the other ways you can give back.