10 Key Facts to Know About Echocardiograms

Doctors may order a transthoracic echocardiogram for various reasons, especially to assess the risk of heart disease or monitor existing conditions. This type of echo can help detect:

• Narrowed or blocked arteries
• Tumors and blood clots
• Heart valves not functioning correctly
• Irregular heartbeats or walls not beating in sync
• Damage to heart tissue after a heart attack

Additionally, it helps diagnose the cause of chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations, making it an essential tool for managing heart health.

A transesophageal echocardiogram is often used when more precision is needed, especially during surgical procedures. It can:

• Monitor the heart during surgery
• Guide catheter-based procedures
• Check artificial heart valves
• Inspect for blood clots in the left atrium
• Detect abnormal blood flow or a cardiac shunt
• Test for infections in heart valves, like endocarditis
• Identify aortic dissections, which are tears in the aorta

This invasive but detailed test ensures that doctors have the clearest view of your heart when it matters most.

A stress echocardiogram is vital for checking how the heart functions during physical exertion. It’s often used to:

• Monitor blood flow to the heart muscle
• Detect issues like ischemia, where reduced blood flow becomes evident after exercise

Doppler echocardiograms are also crucial as they measure the speed and direction of blood flow through the heart. This type of echocardiogram can be paired with stress or other forms of echocardiography to give a comprehensive picture of heart health.

After an echocardiogram, a cardiologist reviews the images and provides a detailed report to the patient’s doctor. Ideal results might show:

• Normal heart chamber size and thickness
• Proper valve function with no leaks or narrowing
• Healthy blood flow from the left ventricle, indicating a good ejection fraction
• Absence of pericardial effusion, where excess fluid builds up around the heart
• No signs of tumors or blood clots within the heart

These findings help doctors diagnose or rule out various heart conditions, guiding the next steps in treatment.