Echocardiography

What is echocardiography?

Echocardiography uses sound waves to create images of your heart. It allows your cardiologist to view your heart pumping blood and identify common heart issues. Echocardiography is a common, painless, noninvasive procedure. 

Your Nader Cardiology provider could recommend echocardiography to check for congenital birth defects, pinpoint problems with heart chambers or valves, or identify the cause of chest pain and shortness of breath. 

What are the different types of echocardiography?

The main types of echocardiography include:

Transesophageal echocardiogram

During a transesophageal echocardiogram, your specialist guides a flexible tube containing a transducer down your throat to record sound waves of your heart. 

Transthoracic echocardiogram

A transthoracic echocardiogram uses a gel and transducer placed against your skin to record sound waves and images of your heart. Before the procedure, you might need an IV injection to make your heart’s images show up clearly. 

Stress echocardiogram

During a stress echocardiogram, your specialist obtains images of your heart before and right after you exercise. If you can’t exercise, you may instead receive an injection of a medicine that makes your heart pump harder.

Doppler echocardiogram

A Doppler echocardiogram uses sound waves to measure the direction and speed of blood flow within your heart. It allows your specialist to assess blood pressure in the arteries in your heart and detect blood flow abnormalities.

How should I prepare for my procedure?

Follow your provider’s instructions before echocardiography at Nader Cardiology. Depending on the type of procedure you undergo, you might need to avoid food several hours beforehand. You may have to arrange for someone to drive you home afterward.

What should I expect during echocardiography?

During echocardiography procedures, you lie on a comfortable exam table. Your provider places electrodes on various areas of your body to conduct your heart’s electrical activity. 

They might place gel and a transducer on your skin to record sound-wave images or place a tube containing a transducer down your throat after numbing the area and offering you a sedative.

Echocardiograms at Nader Cardiology usually take less than an hour. However, if you receive a transesophageal echocardiogram, your specialist may watch you for several hours before you head home.

What happens after echocardiography?

You can usually resume normal activities after an echocardiogram, but have someone drive you home if you’ve received a sedative. Your Nader Cardiology specialist reviews the results with you and lets you know if you need additional diagnostic testing or treatment, such as lifestyle changes, medications, or medical procedures. 

To learn more about echocardiography and find out if it’s right for you, call the Nader Cardiology office or use the online scheduler today.