Echocardiography is a type of ultrasound that uses sound waves to create images of the heart to evaluate its structure, function, and blood flow. This test can help diagnose conditions like valve problems, heart muscle damage after a heart attack, heart murmurs, and congenital heart defects. The most common type, transthoracic echocardiography, involves placing a transducer on the chest, while other types include stress, transesophageal, and fetal echocardiography.
What it is
- An echocardiogram is a diagnostic test that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to create moving pictures of the heart.
- It shows how the heart’s chambers and valves are working and assesses its overall structure and function.
- It is distinct from an electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures electrical activity, not the physical structure.
Common uses
- Diagnosing and monitoring heart disease
- Assessing the extent of heart muscle damage after a heart attack
- Checking for heart valve problems, such as abnormal valves or disease
- Detecting heart murmurs or arrhythmias
- Identifying blood clots or tumors inside the heart
- Evaluating congenital heart defects in unborn babies through fetal echocardiography
- Checking for inflammation of the sac around the heart (pericarditis)
Types of echocardiography
- Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE): The most common type, where a technician places a transducer on the chest after applying gel. The device sends ultrasound waves through the chest wall to get images of the heart.
- Stress echocardiography: Performed during a stress test, either by exercising or using medication to make the heart work harder, to see how it functions under stress.
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE): A more detailed view is obtained by guiding a flexible tube with a transducer down the throat and into the esophagus. It is used when a clearer picture is needed.
- Fetal echocardiography: Used to examine the heart of an unborn baby, usually around 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy.
- 3D echocardiography: Creates three-dimensional images of the heart, which can be performed as part of a TTE or TEE.