@scottbliz It's very much dependent on the technique and skill of the operators/techs/physician and on the patient. The operator 'should' come to your bedside and ask you to open your mouth wide and say, 'Aaaaahhh...' while peering into your mouth. This gives that person a good approximation of any impediments or restrictions to the implements he has at his/her disposal. They may have to use a smaller implement if there is such a thing. Also, whether or not they use a lubricant or a desiccant spray to dry out the tissues lining the esophagus for better imaging, but the packaged and sterile implement itself can have been sprayed with a desiccant. The desiccant can make for a scratchy, irritated and apparently bone dry throat and pharyngeal tissue when you regain consciousness. I don't want to alarm you, but I have experienced that and it wasn't nice. I spoke with the anesthetist about my experience for my second ablation and he seemed pleased that I thought to mention it. He did a much better job and I was fine when I came to.

Will you be able to eat and drink after the TEE? It depends on you, your operating team, and the implement's design and any desiccants added, but you will probably have to ingest something before they let you go. You will have been anesthetized after all, even if briefly, and they'll want to see you walk around for a few minutes to make sure you have good and sustained blood pressure when erect, and that you can keep something down. Again, this is only based on my personal experience during two ablations...yours may vary considerably.

Ask these questions to your team when they come by for that 'Hello, I'm Dr. X and I'll be doing...' bedside chat.