The Immanuel Hospital Bernau's Brandenburg Heart Center is an accredited training center for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), i.e. cardiac ultrasound examinations conducted via the esophagus. So far, only 15 hospitals across the whole of Germany have been accredited by the German Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine to provide cardiac ultrasound training to specialist physicians. For additional information on our accreditation, please refer to our News section

What is meant by transesophageal echocardiography?

The procedure involves the insertion of a flexible ultrasound probe through the patient's mouth and down the throat. As the patient is asked to swallow to help the probe go down, this is also known as a "Schluck-Echo" (literally "swallowing-echo") in German. Dr. Georg Fritz, the Head of the Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Management, explains the benefits of this procedure: "With the ultrasound probe in such close proximity to the heart, this procedure makes the heart, heart valves and the thoracic great vessels clearly visible."



TEE can be used to monitor the progress and success of surgical treatment in patients undergoing heart valve surgery, as well as allowing anesthetists and intensive care specialists to fine-tune the treatment of patients on the ICU or undergoing surgery to ensure hemodynamic stability. Dr. Georg Fritz goes on to explain: "TEE allows improved monitoring of seriously ill patients undergoing complex surgery - and therefore represents a major advance in intensive care medicine."

Upcoming courses

The next "Transesophageal Electrocardiography in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine" course for physicians from Berlin/Brandenburg will be held at the Immanuel Hospital Bernau's Brandenburg Heart Center on 5 & 6 April, 2014. The course is organized in accordance with the guidelines of the German Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI), and provides the foundation for a certification in "Transesophageal Echocardiography in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine". This course is accredited by the Brandenburg Chamber of Physicians and is worth 20 CME credits. The course is led by Dr. med. Georg Fritz, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Management.