An echocardiogram is a non-invasive medical imaging test that uses ultrasound to examine the heart and nearby blood vessels. During the test, a transducer sends high-frequency sound waves that create echoes when they bounce off different parts of the body. These echoes are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image thats displayed on a monitor while the scan is carried out. An echocardiogram can diagnose a range of conditions including cardiomyopathy and valve disease. There are several types of echocardiograms, including:
-
Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE): This is the standard type of echocardiogram and the most often used. It’s performed outside your body. During a standard echocardiogram, the health care provider puts gel on the ultrasound wand, called a transducer, and takes pictures of the heart from outside the body.
-
Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE): This test is similar to a transthoracic echocardiogram, but the transducer is passed down the esophagus instead of being placed on the chest wall. This allows for a more detailed image of the heart.
-
Stress echocardiogram: This is an echocardiogram thats carried out during or just after a period of exercise on a treadmill or exercise bike. It can help diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions by checking the structure of the heart and surrounding blood vessels, analyzing how blood flows through them, and assessing the pumping chambers of the heart.
An echocardiogram can help detect damage from a heart attack, heart failure, and other heart conditions. It can also provide a wealth of helpful information, including the size and shape of the heart, pumping capacity, location and extent of any tissue damage, and assessment of valves. An echocardiogram is an important tool in assessing wall motion abnormality in patients with suspected cardiac disease, and it helps in reaching an early diagnosis of myocardial infarction, showing regional wall motion abnormality. Also, it is important in treatment and follow-up in patients with heart failure, by assessing ejection fraction.
