What is an Echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram (also called "echo") is a test that uses ultrasound waves to examine the heart. It is a safe and painless procedure that helps doctors diagnose a variety of heart problems. How Does it Work?
During the test, a small microphone-like device, called a transducer, is held against the chest. The transducer sends ultrasound waves that bounce off the various parts of the heart. A computer uses the information coming from the transducer to construct an image of the heart. The image is displayed on a television screen, and it can be recorded on
videotape or printed on paper. The echocardiogram study usually combines three different techniques. The simplest technique, called M-mode echo, produces an image that looks more like a tracing than an actual heart. The M-mode echo is especially useful for measuring the exact size of the heart chambers. A more advanced technique, the two-dimensional (2-D) echo, shows the actual shape and motion of the different heart structures. In a way, these images represent "slices" of the heart in motion. A third technique, the Doppler echo, allows doctors to assess the flow of blood through the heart. The signals that represent blood flow are displayed as a series of black-and-white tracings or as color images on the television screen. If you are having a Doppler echo, you may hear a whooshing or pulsating sound.
This is not the actual sound of your heart, but an amplified and computerized audio signal.
Why is the Echo Done?
The echo test gives doctors useful information about the heart, such as:
- Size of the heart. The echo is used for measuring the size of the heart chambers and thickness of the heart muscle.
- Pumping strength. The test shows whether the heart is pumping at full strength or is weakened. It can also help determine whether the various parts of the heart pump equally.
- Valve problems. The echo shows the shape and motion of the heart valves. It can help determine if a valve is narrowed or leaking ahd show how severe the problem is.
- Other uses. The test may also be used to detect the presence of fluid around the heart, blood clots or masses inside the heart, and abnormal holes between heart chambers. Sometimes, the echo is combined with an exercise test, to see how well the heart pumps when made to work harder.
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