Types and Results of Echocardiography Sydney

The technique of echocardiography Sydney uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This routine test allows your doctor to see your blood pressure and heartbeat. Your doctor may use pictures from the echocardiogram to identify heart disease.

Depending on what kind of information your doctor needs, you may have one of the few types of echocardiograms. Each type of echocardiogram involves a few risks if any.

Why is it done?

Your doctor may recommend an echocardiogram to:

• Check for problems with your heart valves or chambers
• Check that heart problems are the cause of symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath
• Get a fatal congenital heart defect

The echocardiogram type totally depends on the information that is required by your doctor.

1. Transthoracic echocardiogram

In this typical type of echocardiogram:

• A sonographer spreads the gel on the device.
• The sonographer presses the transducer firmly into your skin, directing the ultrasound beam from your chest to your heart.
• The transducer records the sound wave heard in your heart.
• The computer converts echo into motion pictures to monitor us.

If your lungs are blocked from viewing, you may need a small amount of an injection agent (IV). Usually well-tolerated and safe, a developmental agent will make your heart formation more clearly visible to the monitor.

2. Transesophageal echocardiogram

Suppose your doctor wants more detailed pictures or is difficult to get a clear picture of your heart with a standard echocardiogram. Therefore, your doctor can recommend a transesophageal echocardiogram.

In this process:

• Your throat will be numb, and you will be given medication to help you relax.
• A flexible tube containing a transducer is directed down your throat to the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach.
• The transducer records the sound wave heard in your heart.
• The computer converts the echo into detailed images of your heart, which your doctor can monitor.

3. Stress echocardiogram

Some heart problems – especially those involving the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle – occur only during exercise. To diagnose coronary artery problems, you can be recommended a stress echocardiogram. However, the echocardiogram cannot provide information about any cardiovascular blockage.

In the echocardiogram of depression:

• Images obtained by ultrasound of your heart are taken before and after you ride a bicycle or go on a treadmill
• If you cannot exercise, you can get a drug injection to make your heart beat faster as if you were exercising.

Results Of Echocardiography

Information from the echocardiogram may indicate:

Changes in the size of your heart. Weak or damaged heart valves, blood pressure or other diseases can cause your heart chambers to grow or your heart walls to become solid.

Pumping power. Measurements from an echocardiogram usually include the percentage of blood pumped outside the ventricle filled with each heartbeat and the volume of blood pumped to the heart by one minute. A heart that does not pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs can lead to symptoms of heart failure.

Cardiovascular injury. An echocardiogram helps your doctor determine if all parts of the heart wall are contributing normally to your cardiovascular function. Slow heart areas may be damaged during a heart attack, or they may receive very little oxygen.

Valve problems. The process of echocardiography Sydney can help your doctor determine if your heart valves are open enough for adequate blood flow or fully shut down to prevent leakage.

Heart defects. An echocardiogram can reveal problems with the heart chambers, abnormal connections between the major blood vessels and heart, and complex heart defects that occur during birth.