Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a non-invasive test that uses sound waves to create detailed images of your heart, providing critical information about its structure and performance.
At HeartCare Texas, we offer comprehensive echocardiography services to evaluate the health and function of your heart. Our experienced technicians conduct these tests in various settings, ensuring comfort and precision. By utilizing advanced technology and expert analysis, we deliver accurate diagnoses and tailored treatment plans to support your heart health.
What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram is a painless procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images, revealing crucial details about your heart's health. Think of it as a window into your heart’s inner workings. The medical procedure enables physicians to monitor how well your heart functions and pinpoint any underlying heart conditions by evaluating the heart’s efficiency.
What is an echocardiogram test for?
It’s a comprehensive check that gives cardiologists a complete picture of a patient’s heart at any given time. Doctors use echocardiogram images to assess your heart’s efficiency in the following ways:
Size and strength evaluation: To evaluate your heart’s pumping efficiency and to identify underlying issues with its ability to relax between beats.
Blood clot detection: Echocardiograms can also detect the presence of blood clots within your heart chambers, which are usually a potential risk factor.
Valve function efficiency check: These valuable images allow doctors to assess the health and function of your heart valves, ensuring proper blood flow throughout the organ.
Muscle health evaluation: The images can also reveal abnormalities in your heart muscle tissue, providing valuable insights for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Types of echocardiograms
- Transthoracic echocardiogram
- Transesophageal echocardiogram
- Stress echocardiogram
- Fetal echocardiography
- Three-dimensional echocardiography
What are the risks involved in an echocardiogram?
The echocardiogram is ideally a safe test with minimal risks involved. There are no risks with transthoracic or fetal echocardiograms. They are safe for people of all ages.
However, transesophageal echocardiograms can be uncomfortable for some people. They might feel slight discomfort in their throat and be drowsy due to the sedative used for the test. In very rare cases, you may experience a risk of the tube scraping your throat.
When you undergo a stress echocardiogram, the risk you may encounter is from the medication or exercise used to raise your heart rate. It can cause irregular heartbeat.
However, severe complications are rare.
Echocardiograms at HeartCare Texas
How to prepare for an echocardiogram
No special preparations are needed for a standard echocardiogram; you can eat and drink as usual. However, if you have a transesophageal echocardiogram scheduled, your doctor might require you to avoid eating for several hours beforehand.
Additionally, you won't be able to drive after a transesophageal echocardiogram because of the sedatives used. For a stress echocardiogram, make sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for exercise.
How the procedure works
At HeartCare Texas, our specially trained technicians perform echocardiograms in various settings, including our clinics and hospital rooms. The procedure takes about an hour and involves several steps to ensure accurate results.
You'll lie on a table while small metal disks (electrodes) are placed on your chest and connected to an electrocardiograph (ECG or EKG) machine to monitor your heartbeat. We dim the room to enhance the technician’s view of the video monitor. A gel is applied to your chest to facilitate sound wave transmission. The technician will move a probe (transducer) across your chest, emitting sound waves that bounce off your heart and return as echoes. These echoes are converted into detailed images displayed on a video monitor.
Our doctors analyze these images to assess your heart’s size, shape, chamber, and valve condition, and blood flow. This helps in diagnosing heart conditions, planning treatments, and monitoring ongoing treatments. Schedule an appointment with us today for our advanced echocardiogram services.