Echo Lab

Echocardiogrpahy is the use of ultrasound waves to produce an image of the heart’s  structure and funciton.  A transducer, or modified microphone, turns electrical energy into sound waves, which enables us to view the muscle and valves of the heart.  These images are recorded onto videotape or computer disk for analysis.

Echocardiography is primarily used to evaluate the following:

Cardiac Valve abnormalities (murmurs)
Cardiomyopathy (enlargement or weakness of the heart)
Effects from hypertension (high blood pressure)
Heart attack damage or scarring
Pericardial disease (the lining that surrounds the heart)
Congenital (present at birth) heart defects.

A specially trained sonographer will perform your echocardiogram. You don’t need to prepare much before the test—you can eat, drink, and take your medications as usual unless your doctor gives you different instructions.

During the test, an electrocardiogram (ECG) will monitor your heartbeat while the sonographer captures images of your heart. A small amount of gel will be placed on your chest to help the ultrasound waves travel and produce clear pictures. You may hear a soft “whooshing” sound during the exam: the amplified sound of blood moving through your heart valves.

For a standard transthoracic echocardiogram, the ultrasound wand (transducer) is gently moved across your chest to view the heart muscle and valves. You may feel slight pressure where the wand is placed. The test is typically painless, has no side effects, and usually takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete. In some cases, we may use an IV to deliver a contrast agent that improves image quality, but this isn’t always necessary.

For a stress echocardiogram, you’ll first have a limited transthoracic echo while lying down to capture baseline images. Next, you’ll walk on a treadmill to reach a target heart rate. As soon as the exercise stops, you’ll quickly return to the imaging table for another echocardiogram while your heart is beating at its peak. Before the test, we’ll review any risks of treadmill exercise with you, and you’ll be asked to sign a consent form.

For a Transthoracic Echocardiogram, there are not specific directions you need to follow before the test.

For a Stress Echocardiogram, you should only eat a light meal before the test.  You should wear flat, comfortable shoes such as sneakers and lightweight shorts or sweatpants for walking on the treadmill.

Post-test Guidelines

There are no post-test restrictions for transthoracic echocardiography or stress echocardiography.

Carolina Heart Specialists, LLC is dedicated to providing area residents with world class heart care right in our neighborhood.  Providing expertise in Echocardiography is just one more example of our dedication to providing the best medical care possible to you and your family.

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