The type of echocardiogram you will have depends on the heart condition being assessed and how detailed the images need to be.įor example, a stress echocardiogram may be recommended if your heart problem is triggered by physical activity, while the more detailed images produced by a TOE may be more useful in helping plan heart surgery.
a transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) – where a small probe is passed down the throat into your food pipe (oesophagus) and sometimes into your stomach (your throat will be numbed with local anaesthetic spray and you'll be given a sedative to help you relax) you may need to avoid eating for several hours before this test.There are also several other types of echocardiogram that can be carried out: The whole procedure will usually take between 15 and 60 minutes, and you'll normally be able to go home shortly afterwards. This is normal and is just the sound of the blood flow through your heart being picked up by the probe. You will not hear the sound waves produced by the probe, but you may hear a swishing noise during the scan. The probe is attached by a cable to a nearby machine that will display and record the images produced. You'll be asked to lie on your left side and the probe will be moved across your chest. These will be connected to a machine that monitors your heart rhythm during the test.Ī lubricating gel will be applied to your chest or directly to the ultrasound probe. When you're lying down, several small sticky sensors called electrodes will be attached to your chest. You may be offered a hospital gown to cover yourself during the test. Transthoracic echocardiogramĪmelie-Benoist / BSIP/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY įor a TTE, you'll be asked to remove any clothing covering your upper half before lying down on a bed. You won't usually need to do anything to prepare for the test, unless you're having a transoesophageal echocardiogram. There are several different ways an echocardiogram can be carried out, but most people will have a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). endocarditis – an infection in the lining of the heart which damages the heart valvesĪn echocardiogram can also help your doctors decide on the best treatment for these conditions.cardiomyopathy – where the heart walls become thickened or enlarged.
When an echocardiogram is usedĪn echocardiogram can help diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions by checking the structure of the heart and surrounding blood vessels, analysing how blood flows through them, and assessing the pumping chambers of the heart. The test will usually be carried out at a hospital or clinic by a cardiologist, cardiac physiologist, or a trained technician called a sonographer.Īlthough it has a similar name, an echocardiogram is not the same as an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is a test used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity. These echoes are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image on a monitor while the scan is carried out.Īn echocardiogram may be requested by a heart specialist (cardiologist) or any doctor who thinks you might have a problem with your heart, including your GP.
It's a type of ultrasound scan, which means a small probe is used to send out high-frequency sound waves that create echoes when they bounce off different parts of the body. An echocardiogram, or "echo", is a scan used to look at the heart and nearby blood vessels.
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