Manufacturers are bringing out smaller scanners, for new applications such as ‘triage’ or ‘focused’ scans. The test is quick and painless, and the bubbles are harmless.Hand-carried ultrasound scanner, Clinical use Introduction It may be carried out after a stroke or TIA, or after complex heart surgery. The salt water contains tiny bubbles which show up clearly on the scan pictures, and can be a useful way to identify a hole in the heart. Bubble echoĪ bubble echo involves performing an echo in the usual way whilst a small amount of salt water (saline) is injected into your bloodstream, through a vein in your arm. Foetal echocardiogramįoetal echocardiograms are used to help identify heart defects before a child is born. This test can help to diagnose coronary heart disease as it shows the coronary arteries in the heart aren’t getting as much oxygen rich blood as they should. Watch the film below to see Dave's experience of a TOE:Īn echocardiogram may be done while the heart is beating faster – a stress echo is performed while deliberately increasing the heart rate with either exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike, or with medication given through a vein. The technician will obtain the images they need and remove the tube as soon as the procedure is done. The procedure usually takes about 30 minutes. A local anaesthetic that numbs the area will be sprayed onto the back of your throat and you will be offered a short-acting light sedative to help you relax. You will be asked to lie on your side and ‘swallow’ a small probe which is mounted at the end of a flexible tube. This test is used to get closer and more defined images of the heart as it can detect things that are not as easy to see with a transthoracic echo. Other types of echocardiogram Transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE)Ī transoesophageal echocardiography, or TOE, takes detailed pictures of your heart from your oesophagus (the tube that connects your throat to your stomach) which lies behind your heart. It’s a very common, safe test, and most people find it’s not uncomfortable, although you may feel a bit of pressure as the technician presses the probe onto your chest to obtain the best images. It varies from person to person and can take from 15 minutes up to an hour. The ultrasound waves ‘echo’ against the structures of your heart and the probe picks up these reflections and shows them as images on a screen.ĭifferent parts of the heart are seen as the probe is moved around on your chest. The probe gives off pulses of high frequency sound waves which pass through your skin to your heart. The healthcare professional (called a sonographer) doing the procedure will move the probe in different areas of your chest around your heart. It feels cold and sticky, but is otherwise harmless. A gel used especially for scanning will be used to help the sound waves reach your heart. With a standard echo, sometimes called a transthoracic echo or TTE, you’ll be asked to lie on a couch or bed. Your privacy will be maintained as you will be behind curtains or in a hospital clinic room in the outpatients department. You will be given a hospital gown to wear as you will need to remove all clothing from your top half when the echo is done. What happens when you have an echocardiogram? It is often done if you have had a heart attack or if you have been diagnosed with heart failure as it shows how much heart muscle is affected. It is also used routinely to diagnose and assess heart valve problems or congenital heart disease (heart conditions people are born with). What does an echocardiogram show?Īn echo looks at the structures of your heart, and gives information on how well your heart is pumping. It is similar to ultrasound scanning used in pregnancy. An echocardiogram, also known as an echo, is a non-invasive test which uses sound waves to build up a detailed picture of your heart.
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