Echocardiography

Index

1. What is echocardiography?
2. What does it consist of?
3. Why is it performed?
4. How to prepare for echocardiography
5. What does the test feel like?

What is echocardiography?

Echocardiography or echocardiographic examination is a diagnostic test that, through ultrasound, provides information about the shape, size, strength, movement, thickness and function of the heart valves. It is a non-invasive and painless method that is characterized as a cardiac ultrasound.

What does it consist of?

Echocardiography is a non-invasive cardiological diagnosis that makes it possible to analyze the function of the ventricular chambers and valve apparatus, providing very important data on the cardiac situation and on the condition of a patient with heart disease.

It lasts approximately 10-15 minutes. While it is being performed, it is very important that the patient does not move. The patient will have to lie on the table with the torso naked, a layer of gel will be applied and then the adhesive patches (electrodes) will be placed. Afterwards, a probe will be placed which, thanks to ultrasound, will allow a view of the heart and its structures.

Echocardiography is a non-invasive procedure.

Why is it performed?

Echocardiography is performed to obtain more information about the contractility of the heart, the morphology of the valves and the blood flow in its chambers. It can be performed in different ways:

• Transthoracic echocardiography: a probe placed on the patient’s thorax emits ultrasound that allows a real-time image of the cardiac structures to be obtained.
• Transesophageal echocardiography: performed endoscopically, it allows the diagnosis of pathologies that are otherwise difficult to diagnose, such as complex valvular defects, rare congenital malformations and pathologies of the thoracic aorta.
• 3D echocardiography: allows a three-dimensional evaluation of the heart.

Echocardiography is used when a person has suffered a heart attack:

• Has suffered a heart attack.
• Suffering from heart failure.
• Has damaged heart valves.
• Has an artificial heart valve implanted.
• Has undergone a heart transplant.

Preparing for echocardiography

Preparation for echocardiography varies depending on the type being performed. The diagnosing doctor will inform you of the steps to be taken days before the test. However, in general, you should fast for six hours and not have ingested caffeine, energizers, alcoholic beverages or have smoked 24 hours prior to the test.

On the day of the test, no creams, talcum powder, oils or colognes should be used on the chest area. If you have a pacemaker, it is very important to inform the physician before the test. In addition, it is necessary to remove any accessory used in the area.

If the patient is a minor, over 60 years of age or has any special condition, he/she must be accompanied by a companion, since the test is performed under sedation. Depending on the type of echocardiography, you will not be able to drive a vehicle during the first hours after the test because of the medications that will be applied during the test.

What does it feel like during the test?

No pain or discomfort is felt during echocardiography, as it is a painless and safe test. The throat is numbed with a spray or gel and a sedative is administered, depending on the type of test.

The patient may be asked to breathe in a certain way for a period of time or to turn to the left side. The technologist will move the transducer, a device that will be used during the test, from loop to loop over the chest to record images from the echoes of the heart’s sound waves.