News Release – TOE Transducer
Mildura now has its own transoesophageal echocardiogram, commonly known as a TOE, which provides high quality ultrasound images of the heart.
The equipment, sent down a patient’s oesophagus to scan the heart, may not be large but, with a $75,000 price tag, obtaining one for Mildura’s cardiology department had been a long-term goal.
A substantial donation from the Mallee Health Foundation helped pay for the TOE, which cardiologist Alan Soward said could save as many as 15 patients a year from having to be flown to Melbourne or Adelaide for the scan.
The vast majority of patients who were being transported by air ambulance had significant illnesses, such as stroke or endocarditis, an infection of the heart valve.
