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  • Echocardiogram

     
     
     
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    An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart. The picture can help doctors evaluate the heart’s structures, including the muscles and valves.  Doctors may be able to see a hole in the wall that divides the left and right sides of the heart or a deformity of a heart valve, for example,
    • The motion of the muscular walls in the heart’s lower chambers, which provides insight into the heart’s pumping power.
    • The flow of blood within the heart and blood vessels (which can be seen on a color Doppler echocardiogram). Seeing blood flow helps doctors identify and assess such abnormalities as a leaky heart valve.
    • Pressure differences between one part of the heart and another.   

    How Does It Work? 

    Echocardiography uses ultrasound waves to make a picture of structures moving inside the heart.  These harmless sound waves travel from an instrument, called a transducer, placed on the chest. As the sound waves reflect back from structures in the heart to the transducer, the echocardiogram machine receives and interprets them – and creates a picture of the heart’s inside structures.  As the transducer continuously emits ultrasound waves, it also receives continuous feedback from the heart.  The result is a picture of the heart muscles, valves and blood vessels in motion.    

    How Is It Performed? 

    A gel is applied to the outside of the chest of the patient as he or she lies on a table. An “echo” technician moves a transducer over the child’ chest to collect different “views” of the heart. The test takes 30-60 minutes to complete.

    Is It Safe?

    There are no known risks associated with echocardiography. 

  • Related Heart & Vascular Disease

    Coronary Artery Disease

    Coronary artery disease, or CAD, is a build-up of fat and cholesterol in the arteries that supply blood to your heart. These deposits, which are called plaques, grow slowly over decades and can sometimes become hardened with fibrous tissue and calcium. As the plaques grow, in a disease process called atherosclerosis, portions of the artery become clogged and narrowed. If an artery is severely obstructed, it reduces blood flow to the heart and can cause chest pain or even a heart attack.

    Symptoms of coronary artery disease

    As plaque builds up, your arteries become narrowed. At first you may not even be aware of this silent process, but eventually the clogged arteries will no longer be able to supply enough blood to your heart, especially during physical activity or emotional stress.