Echocardiogram
Preparing for your heart echo test
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Echocardiogram Procedure to Diagnose Heart Conditions
The CardioVascular Institute offers advanced technology to diagnose complex heart disease. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) specialists offer echocardiograms as one tool to ensure you get an accurate diagnosis as quickly as possible.
Our Echocardiography Laboratory has earned full accreditation from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission of Echocardiography Laboratories (IACEL) continuously for more than a decade. All of our interpreting doctors have passed the American Board of Echocardiography Special Competency in Echocardiography exam. Our lab features state-of-the-art imaging systems to generate real-time electronic reports.
Understanding Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a medical test that produces detailed images of your beating heart. Using ultrasound technology, an echocardiogram allows your doctor to see the walls, chambers, valves and blood flow within your heart. This imaging test is not invasive and doesn’t use any radiation or require sedation.
An echocardiogram is a very accurate and useful tool in diagnosing, managing and treating heart problems. It can:
- Accurately locate tumors and blood clots within the heart
- Assess the heart’s activity and tissue damage following a heart attack or a diagnosis of heart failure
- Assess your heart valves to determine if they are working properly
- Help assess your risk for heart disease
- Help find the cause for symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations or chest pain
- Identify areas where arteries are blocked or narrowed
- Identify heart walls that are not beating in a normal way
- Monitor the progression of your existing heart disease and your response to treatment
Candidates for Echocardiogram
Your doctor may send you for an echocardiogram if they have diagnosed or suspect you may have one of the following:
- Valvular heart disease
- Ventricular dysfunction
- Congenital heart disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congestive heart failure
- Pericardial disease
- Cardiac source of embolism (clot)
- Coronary artery disease
Types of Echocardiograms
There are four main types of echocardiograms:
- Contrast echocardiography
- Physiologic and pharmacologic echocardiography, called stress tests
- Transthoracic (surface) echocardiography
- Transesophageal echocardiography
More About Echocardiogram
You don’t need any special preparations before the test. You may eat, drink and take your medications as you normally do.
The outpatient Echocardiography Laboratory is located on the seventh floor of the Carl J. Shapiro Clinical Center. You should plan to be in the lab for about one hour.
When you arrive, you will meet the sonographer who will perform the test. They will:
- Verify your name and birth date
- Explain the test
- Answer any questions you may have
- Give you a gown to change into
After you privately remove your clothes from the waist up and change into the gown, the sonographer will place electrodes on your chest. Electrodes are round sticky patches that attach to an electrocardiogram (ECG) machine, which monitors your heart rate for the duration of the test.
While you are lying on your left side, the sonographer will use a wand called a sound-wave transducer to capture ultrasound pictures of various areas of your heart. Gel on the end of the wand helps to produce clearer pictures. It may feel cool, but will not harm your skin.
The sonographer will place the wand on several areas of your chest, and may ask you to change positions or hold your breath for short periods of time. You may hear noise from the ultrasound machine if the sonographer is also gathering information about blood flow in your heart.
The lights in the room are dim so the sonographer can see the images on the monitor more clearly. When the test is complete, the sonographer will help wipe off any remaining gel. You can change back into your own clothes and resume your usual activities as soon as you leave.
A cardiologist will review your test results, write a detailed report and send it to your doctor. Your doctor will have the results within three business days of the test.
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