Echocardiography

What is echocardiography?

Echocardiography is a diagnostic imaging technology that determines the cause of heart-related symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath.

Echocardiography uses ultrasound technology to build up a moving image of your heart that you can see on a monitor. The technician or sonographer directs sound waves into your chest at frequencies so high you can’t hear them. The echoes coming back create images on a screen.

Echocardiography technology helps your cardiologist evaluate your heart’s efficiency and blood pumping ability. Cardiovascular Wellness Center’s doctors are diplomates of the American Board of Echocardiography and have considerable experience.

Are there different types of echocardiography?

The Cardiovascular Wellness Center team uses several types of echocardiography, including:

Transthoracic echocardiography

This is the standard chest echocardiography using a handpiece (transducer) that slides across your skin on a slippery gel. You might need a dye injection into the arteries to make the images of your heart as clear as possible.

Contrast- and bubble-enhanced echocardiography

These transthoracic echocardiograms can provide better images of your heart’s pumping action and a clearer view of blood clots. A contrast-enhanced echocardiogram uses a special dye, while a bubble-enhanced echocardiogram uses salt water.

Transesophageal echocardiography

Transesophageal echocardiography involves having the transducer passed down your throat and into your esophagus, bringing it closer to your heart. It provides clearer pictures when scarring or fatty tissues make transthoracic echocardiography problematic.

3D echocardiography (color flow and Doppler)

Doppler echocardiography measures the direction and speed of blood flow within your heart by analyzing ultrasound echo pitch. Color flow mapping studies larger areas of blood flow by injecting different colored dyes into your blood.

Stress echocardiography

Stress testing might be necessary if other echocardiograms don’t reveal the cause of your symptoms. There are several ways to perform stress testing, which can also be done using an electrocardiogram (EKG). Treadmill stress testing raises your heart rate through exercise, while dobutamine stress testing increases your heart rate using medication.

What conditions can echocardiography diagnose?

The Cardiovascular Wellness Center team uses echocardiography to help diagnose many heart conditions, including:

• Enlarged heart chambers
• Heart muscle damage
• Valvular heart disease
• Heart chamber abnormalities
• Thickening heart walls
• Inadequate pumping
• Complex congenital heart defects

An accurate diagnosis enables your provider to create the most effective treatment plan.

To take advantage of the Cardiovascular Wellness Center team’s superior skills and cutting-edge echocardiography facilities, call the office or book an appointment online today.