Echocardiography

An echocardiogram is a safe, non-invasive procedure used to diagnose cardiovascular disease. It uses high-frequency sound waves to literally see all four chambers of the heart, the heart valves, the great blood vessels entering and leaving the heart, as well as the sack around the heart.

Echocardiography allows doctors to visualize the anatomy, structure, and function of the heart. It can quickly diagnose the presence and severity of heart valve problems, as well as determine abnormal flow within the heart. This window to the heart enables the doctors to diagnose a number of cardiovascular disease, so they can begin proper treatment.

The transthoracic echocardiogram is a painless procedure that involves the patient lying quietly while a small probe, called the transducer, is gently placed on various positions of the chest, from which to obtain the images or pictures of the heart in real-time. Because the sound waves do not readily pass through air, a clear jelly-like substance is applied between the chest and the transducer to improve the contact of the transducer with the skin. During this test, all you will feel is the transducer touching your chest.

A transducer is a flat-bottomed instrument, about six-inches long, that moves smoothly along the chest. Repetitive pulses of ultrasound waves, silent to our ears, are delivered to the heart. Between these pulses, the returning echoes are gathered and recorded to the videotape.

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. You can think about how an echo works in these four steps : A cardiology technician or doctor uses a handheld scanning instrument called a transducer to send high frequency sound waves into your chest. The technician will apply gel to the left side of your chest over your heart to improve the contact between your skin and the transducer. This helps transmit the sound waves through your body. When sound waves from the ultrasound transducer hit your heart, blood vessels, and other tissues in your body, some of the waves are reflected back. Reflected sound waves are called echoes (as in echocardiogram).

The transducer captures any reflected sound waves and measures the strength and source of each echo. The echo computer measures how long it takes for each sound wave sent by the transducer to be reflected back. When a sound wave leaves the transducer and is reflected by your heart muscle, the longer it takes for the sound wave to return, the farther away that part of your heart is. The imaging software on the echo computer translates this echo information into a picture that shows the shape and motion of your heart.

An echocardiogram can be performed in any setting, i.e., wherever the patient is. A cardiologist and a cardiac sonographer, a health care professional specially trained and certified in ultrasound imaging of the heart, performs the procedure, reviews and interprets the results. An echo takes approximately not more than 45 minutes.

Echocardiogram steps : the image of your heart that you see on the video screen will be two-dimensional, meaning that it only shows a "slice" of your heart. The "slice" is shaped like a triangle because the transducer sends out the waves in a triangular shape. The echo computer records about 30 such slices per second, which allows the cardiologist to study your heart in motion.

During the test, the technician will change the position of the transducer to produce images of your heart from a variety of angles. This technique gives the cardiologist the equivalent of a three-dimensional perspective on how your heart is functioning.

Before a procedure

• Fasting is not necessary, and do not stop your current medications (except when performed with exercise stress testing).
• Shirt and trouser are more preferable, or you may change to an examination gown.
• It takes not more than 45 minutes, with some more time for dressing, etc.

During a procedure

• Electrodes are placed at your chest wall for monitoring your heart rates.
• A clear jelly-like substance is applied between the chest and the transducer to improve the contact of the transducer with the skin.
• You may hold a short breath during exhalation, since the air in your lungs may interfere with the quality of the images.
• The images will be recorded to the videotape for your doctor to review them later on.

After a procedure Ask your doctor about the results, and what to do next.

A procedure's results You doctor will explain your cardiac status, and advise what to do next for the most appropriate and satisfactory outcome.