[Subjective tolerance to transesophageal echocardiography]

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a new semi-invasive diagnostic tool in cardiology. We studied tolerance of TEE. 95 out of 121 consecutive patients were interviewed using a detailed, structured questionnaire (42 questions). Most patients (97%) received midazolam prior to TEE. TEE was tolerated well by 89% (n = 84) of the patients. Patients receiving a higher dose of midazolam (> 0.04 mg/kg bodyweight) tolerated TEE better than those in the lower-dose group (p < 0.0005), but they experienced side effects more often (p < 0.05) and did not tolerate fatigue as well (p < 0.0005). TEE was tolerated less well by younger patients (age < or = 45 years); they experienced more often local irritation than older patients due to the endoscope (52% versus 20% in older patients, p < 0.005) and complained more often about dysphagia (70% versus 24%) and sore throat (60% versus 19%) (p < 0.0005) after TEE. Patients < or = 45 years reported more side effects by midazolam than older patients, such as palpitations (30% versus 2%), hiccups (17% versus 0%), poor concentration (20% versus 3%), nausea (13% versus 2%), ataxia (17% versus 3%) or fatigue (88% versus 59%) (p < 0.05 to 0.0005). Females were more often afraid of TEE (53%) and the endoscope (56%) than males (35% and 23%, p < 0.08 and p < 0.002) and also disliked the endoscope more often (42%) than men (19%, p < 0.03). Some women complained about headaches after TEE (10%), whereas men did not (p < 0.05). Thus, TEE, after premedication with midazolam, is subjectively well tolerated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)