Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram, commonly called an echo, examines the heart's valves and chambers for potential issues. During the test, a sonographer places a transducer on the chest to capture ultrasound images of the heart. The procedure is non-invasive, painless and ultrasound-based, and it does not expose the patient to X-ray radiation.
How to Prepare
No special preparation is needed. Wear comfortable clothing.
Common Reasons for This Exam
heart murmurs; chest pain or shortness of breath; arrhythmias; cardiomyopathies; valvular heart disease; congenital heart defects; monitoring heart function and treatment progress; cardiac emboli; patent foramen ovale; left ventricular dysfunction; infective endocarditis.
What This Ultrasound Can Find
atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, heart failure, aneurysm, heart valve disease, cardiac tumor, pericarditis, pericardial effusion or tamponade, atrial or septal wall defects, shunts.