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Echocardiography

What Is an Echocardiogram?

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Echocardiography (also known as cardiac ultrasound) is a test that provides digital imagery of the heart.  The display reveals abnormalities in the heart’s ability (or inability) to pump blood.  It also shows damage to valves, chambers, and vessels that can result from a heart attack. 

Echocardiograms help doctors and surgeons diagnose heart problems before surgery.  Obviously, being able to see structural damage prior to surgery enables doctors to prepare adequately for treatment.  In addition, doctors can use echocardiography technology to more accurately diagnose heart disease or heart abnormalities that are not caused by heart attacks; again, allowing for a “look ahead” at the heart without the potential complications of open heart surgery. 

Generally, echocardiography is painless and noninvasive.  A transthoracic echocardiogram is where the ultrasound transducer is placed outside the chest and produces images of the heart which can be displayed on a monitor.  Another version of echocardiography, the transesophageal echocardiogram, is slightly invasive.  The ultrasound transducer is placed into the patient’s esophagus.  A transesophageal echocardiogram provides a more detailed reading, as the transducer is literally closer to the heart.  However, this process may require local anesthesia to relax the esophagus and reduce the gag reflex.
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