Echocardiogram and Stress Echocardiogram Ultrasounds
An echocardiogram is a test in which ultrasound is used to examine the heart. In addition to providing single-dimension images, known as M-mode echo that allows accurate measurement of the heart chambers, the echocardiogram also offers far more sophisticated and advanced imaging. This is known as two- dimensional (2-D) Echo and is capable of displaying a cross-sectional "slice" of the beating heart, including the chambers, valves and the major blood vessels that exit from the left and right ventricle. EKG or ECG may also be used during the echocardiography test. The EKG helps in the timing of various cardiac events (filling and emptying of chambers).
Other diagnosis the echo may determine are:
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Pericardial effusion
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Valvular Heart Disease
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Myocardial wall abnormailiteis
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Infarction
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Aneurysm
Echocardiogram Patient Preparation:
None is required.
Stress Echocardiogram:
Patients with coronary artery blockages may have minimal or no symptoms during rest. However, symptoms and signs of heart disease may be unmasked by exposing the heart to the stress of exercise. During exercise, healthy coronary arteries dilate (develop a more open channel) than an artery with a blockage. This unequal dilation causes more blood to be delivered to heart muscle supplied by the normal artery. In contrast, narrowed arteries end up supplying reduced flow to it's area of distribution. This reduced flow causes the involved muscle to "starve" during exercise. The "starvation" may produce symptoms (like chest discomfort or inappropriate shortness of breath), EKG abnormalities and reduced movement of the heart muscle. The latter can be recognized by examining the movement of the walls of the left ventricle (the major pumping chamber of the heart) by Echocardiography.
This test requires the patient to complete a stress test on a treadmill and then immediately move to the exam table for an ultrasound image of the heart.
Patient preparation:
This test requires the patient to wear loose fitting clothing and not smoke the day of the test.