Echocardiography: procedures, side effects, and treatments

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Definition of echocardiography (echocardiography)

What is echocardiography (echocardiography)?

Echocardiography (echocardiography) or echo for short is a medical test that uses sound waves to produce an image of your heart. Starting from the chambers of the heart, valves, heart walls, to blood vessels, such as the aorta, arteries and veins that attach to the heart.

This medical test, also called a heart echo or ultrasound of the heart, gives a picture of the heart using sound waves.

The purpose of echocardiography is carried out

There are several purposes your doctor asks you to do an echocardiography test, including:

• Thoroughly evaluate your heart function.
• Determine the presence of various types of heart disease, such as heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, endocarditis (inflammation of the endocardium), or problems with the outer lining of the heart (pericarditis).
• See the size, shape, thickness, and movement of the heart wall. In addition, it also helps doctors to see the movement of blood circulating in the heart. The reason is, there are several conditions that cause blood that should not flow backwards (heart regurgitation).
• Observe how strongly your heart pumps blood throughout.
• Seeing a blood clot that may form around the chambers of the heart or abnormal tissue growth in the heart, for example a tumor.
• Helping doctors determine heart medication or other medical tests that suit the condition of the heart.

You need to know that this medical test is different from an electrocardiogram, also known as an EKG or a heart record test. An EKG test has a different purpose, which is to record the electrical activity of the heart to detect any heart rhythm disturbances.

Types of echocardiography (echocardiography)

According to the Mayo Clinic website, echocardiography (echocardiography) consists of various types, including:

Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)

In this test, the sonographer will apply gel to your chest. It then uses a transducer to your skin to record the sound waves and send them on a monitor to be converted into a moving image.

Transesophageal echocardiogram

This test is performed if the TTE does not show a more detailed image. Your throat is numbed, then a flexible tube containing a transducer will be inserted down your throat to record sound waves from your heart, send them to a monitor, and display them as an image.

Doppler echocardiogram

Sound waves change to high and low notes as they bounce off blood cells moving through the heart and blood vessels.

These changes help your doctor measure the speed and direction of blood flow in your heart. The Doppler technique is commonly used in transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms.

The Doppler technique can also be used to check for problems with blood flow and blood pressure in the arteries of your heart, which may not be detected by a regular cardiac ultrasound. The blood flow displayed on the monitor is colored to help your doctor find problems.

Stress echocardiogram

Some heart diseases that affect the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle can cause symptoms only when a person is doing an activity.

This test will be done before and after you do light exercise, such as walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike. When not doing physical activity

When is echocardiography (echocardiography) done?

This heart health test is usually reserved for people with the following conditions:

• Having problems with the lining of the heart.
• Having problems with the heart blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease.
• Have a congenital heart defect.

In general, echocardiography has no specific restrictions, which means that anyone can and should do it if needed.

However, under certain conditions, the accuracy of the results displayed by this tool may not be optimal in people who are overweight (obese), or those who are very thin. The reason is, the amount of body fat can affect the smooth delivery of sound waves.

Symptoms or signs requiring echocardiography

Echocardiography tests are usually done when you have signs that are suspected symptoms of heart disease, including:

• The heartbeat becomes noticeably faster or slower (arrhythmia).
• Shortness of breath accompanied by chest pain.
• Dizziness and feeling of wanting to pass out.

Risks and side effects of echocardiography (echocardiography)

Ultrasound of the heart does not cause any pain. In general, there are no side effects from this procedure.

Preparation before echocardiography (echocardiography)

There is nothing special that must be prepared before undergoing this procedure. You can eat and drink anything before and after. You also don't need to fast. Unless you have a transesophageal echocardiogram through the throat.

However, you must first inform the drugs or supplements that you are currently using and if you have a pacemaker in your body.

Echocardiography procedure (echocardiography)

You will be asked to undress from chest to waist and then lie down on the bed. The doctor will put probe over the chest that has been given the gel.

This gel is meant to be a tool probe adheres well to the skin so that the quality and dimensions of the image obtained will be maximized. The doctor will move probe on your chest to get the view needed to assess the function and structure of the heart.

This procedure is usually done for 15-30 minutes, depending on whether your doctor has enough information about the function and structure of your heart.

The procedure may differ, depending on the type of echocardiography you are undergoing. You may be asked to fast, to have a heart ultrasound through the throat or to do light exercise, such as walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike before and after the test.

Care after echocardiography (echocardiography)

The results of this heart ultrasound examination can be seen directly on the monitor screen and will be explained by the doctor who performs this procedure.

You may be asked to adopt a healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise, unless your doctor gives you different advice.

Generally, there is no specific type of treatment after an echocardiogram. However, your doctor may provide additional instructions after the procedure, depending on your body condition.