Types & Benefits of Echocardiography

 An echocardiogram is a test that uses high-frequency sound waves to take pictures of your heart. His common test allows your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood. Your doctor can use the images from an echocardiogram to identify heart disease. Echo also can pinpoint areas of the heart muscle that aren't contracting well because of poor blood flow or injury from a previous heart attack.


Doppler ultrasound shows how well blood flows through your heart's chambers and valves. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound, or harmless sound waves, to quickly and efficiently obtain valuable information about your heart. Our doctors regularly use an echocardiogram or echo, when they have questions about the size, shape, and performance of your heart and its valves.

Types of Echocardiography

There are several types of these tests.

Transthoracic echocardiogram

A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) is the most common noninvasive type of echocardiogram, which uses high-frequency soundwaves (ultrasound) to create a moving picture of your heart through the chest wall.

This test is used to examine suspected problems with the valves or chambers of the heart, as well as the heart’s ability to pump blood. 

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) uses echocardiography to assess the structure and function of the heart. During the procedure, a transducer sends out ultrasonic sound waves. Being overweight or having certain lung diseases can interfere with images of the heart when the transducer is placed on the chest wall.

Stress echocardiogram

Stress echocardiography is a test that uses ultrasound imaging to show how well your heart muscle is working to pump blood to your body. It is most often used to detect a decrease in blood flow to the heart from narrowing in the coronary arteries.

Intravascular ultrasound

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) uses a transducer or probe to generate sound waves and produce images of blood vessels.

Benefits of Echocardiography

Once the technician has obtained the images, it usually takes 20 to 30 minutes to perform the measurement. If you have a transesophageal echo, you may be watched for a few hours at the doctor's office or hospital after the test. Your throat might be sore for a few hours after the test.  These parts include the heart valves, the septum, and the walls of the heart chambers. Doppler ultrasound shows the movement of blood through your heart. This will solve these problems including:

·         Pumping strength

·         Changes in your heart size

·         Damage to the heart muscle

·         Valve problems

·         Heart defect

After the Echocardiography

You usually can go back to your normal activities right after having echocardiography. If your echocardiogram is normal, no further testing may be needed. If the results are concerning, you may be referred to a doctor trained in heart conditions for more tests.

Your doctor will talk with you after looking at your echo pictures and discuss what the pictures show. The doctor will explain the procedure and offer you the opportunity to ask questions about the procedure. Generally, no prior preparation, such as fasting or sedation is required. The results may reveal abnormalities such as:

  • damage to the heart muscle
  • valve problems
  • problems with pumping function
  • Determine the need for more tests
  • Diagnose heart problems

Risk of Echocardiography

Echocardiography has no risks. You may feel some discomfort from the transducer being held very firmly against your chest. The firmness is necessary to produce the best images of your heart.

Reference

 

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