Echocardiography

Echocardiography

Echocardiography (sometimes called an echo or an echocardiogram) is a type of ultrasound test that uses high-pitched sound waves to produce an image of the heart. An echocardiogram is used to evaluate how well your heart chambers fill with blood and pump it to the rest of the body. Echocardiography can help identify areas of poor blood flow in the heart, areas of heart muscle that are not contracting normally, previous injury to the heart muscle caused by impaired blood flow, or evidence of heart failure, especially in people with chest pain or a possible heart attack.

The different types of echocardiograms are:

Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE)
This is the standard, most commonly used method of echocardiography. Views of the heart are obtained by moving the transducer to different locations on the chest or abdominal wall.

You do not need any special preparation for TTE.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
TEE is a special type of test in which the instrument called a transducer that emits sound waves is passed down the esophagus instead of being moved over the outside of the chest wall. This test requires a sedative and anesthetic applied to the throat to ease discomfort.

Do not eat or drink for at least 6 hours before the test. Before TEE, you will be given a sedative. You will not be able to drive at least 12 hours after the procedure. Be sure to make arrangements in advance for someone to pick you up after the test.

Stress Echocardiogram.

This test involves doing echocardiography both before and after your heart is stressed. The heart is stressed either by exercise or by injection of a medication called Dobutamine into an IV (intravenous line) that has been placed in your arm. The Dobutamine will make your heart pump harder and faster, simulating exercise. This is referred to as a chemical stress echo. A chemical stress echo is done when a person is unable to walk for a period of time on the treadmill. A stress echocardiogram is usually done to determine whether you may have significant reduced flow of blood to the heart.

If you are having an exercise stress echo, wear flat, comfortable shoes (no bedroom slippers) and loose, lightweight shorts or sweatpants, men are usually bare-chested during the test, while women often wear a bra, t-shirt, or hospital gown. Avoid wearing any restrictive clothing other than a bra. When you arrive, please have the following:

Picture identification

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