How is the test performed?

Initially the patient is asked to gargle with viscous xylocaine 2% mixed in a glass of water. The patient should alert the technician and the doctor in case he/she has dentures, oral prosthesis, partly unstable tooth or history of dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) or esophageal problems. Then, after taking the consent, the patient is asked to lie on a bed on the left side. Following this, xylocaine is sprayed into the throat for local anaesthesia, which is effective within few minutes and persists for 30-45 minutes after the procedure during which time patient should avoid any food or drink to avoid aspiration into the respiratory tract. Also, three ECG electrodes and leads are attached to the chest and arm. Then, the doctor will explain the procedure to the patient in detail and would then give a bite block (mouth piece) to be held between the teeth. Through this mouth piece, the probe which has a small transducer at its tip, is introduced slowly across the throat into the food pipe. Patient might experience some amount of gagging during this process, but once the probe passes across the throat this sensation reduces and then patient should continue slow and deep breaths till the procedure is completed. Once the echocardiographic examination with colour Doppler is over, the probe is gradually removed.