Echocardiography (ECHO) is a test that uses sound waves to produce live images of your heart which helps to monitor how your heart and its valves are functioning. An echocardiogram can help diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions by checking the structure of the heart and surrounding blood vessels, analyzing how blood flows through them, and assessing the pumping chambers of the heart.
Why might I need an Echo done?
An echocardiogram can help detect:
- Damage from a heart attack – where the supply of blood to the heart was suddenly blocked.
- Heart failure – where the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure.
- Congenital heart disease – birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart.
- Problems with the heart valves – problems affecting the valves that control the flow of blood within the heart.
- Cardiomyopathy – where the heart walls become thickened or enlarged.
- Endocarditis – an infection in the lining of the heart which damages the heart valves.
An echocardiogram can also help your doctors decide on the best treatment for these conditions.
Our Equipment:
Karuna City Clinic has Voluson series equipment from GE Healthcare which uses ultrasound, or harmless sound waves, to quickly and efficiently obtain valuable information about your heart.
The following types of Echo are done at Karuna City Clinic:
- Transthoracic Echocardiogram: A transthoracic echocardiogram is the most common form of echocardiogram. In this procedure, the cardiologist spreads gel on a probe, before it is placed firmly against the skin. High-frequency sound waves are aimed at the heart through the chest, and the probe records the sound wave echoes as they bounce back. A computer then converts these echoes into moving imagery.
- Doppler Echocardiogram: This technique is used to measure and assess the flow of blood through the heart’s chambers and valves. The amount of blood pumped out with each beat is an indication of the heart’s functioning. Also, Doppler can detect abnormal blood flow within the heart, which can indicate a problem with one or more of the heart’s four valves, or with the heart’s walls.
- Fetal Echocardiogram: A fetal echocardiogram (also called a fetal echo) uses sound waves to create pictures of an unborn baby’s heart. Doctors may order a fetal echocardiogram to look for any major problems with the developing baby’s heart walls and valves, the blood vessels leading to and from the heart, and the heart’s pumping strength.
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