An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to produce detailed images of the heart. An echocardiogram Upper East Side may be used to diagnose heart problems in children, adults, and pregnant women. In this test, sound waves bounce off your heart and are picked up by a device called a transducer. A series of pictures are created to show how your heart looks from different angles.
How echocardiogram works
An echocardiogram sends high-frequency sound waves through the body, which are reflected by all structures in the body and recorded by a video camera. You’ll be asked to lie down on a table with your feet flat and legs slightly apart.
The equipment may feel warm at first, but this is normal. A doctor will ask you to breathe normally for about 10 minutes until you get used to the feeling. Then they will place an earphone-type device over one ear and ask you to listen for sounds as they move it around your chest area.
The doctor may rotate the device from side to side and up and down along your sternum (breastbone) to ensure it covers all parts of your heart. As they do this, they will write down how much time passes before each sound is heard while moving the device around your chest area. This information will help doctors determine if any areas of your heart are missing beats because of turbulence caused by blood flowing through arteries or veins that should be closed off completely during this test
Types of Congenital Heart Defects Detected by Echocardiogram
The echocardiogram can detect many types of congenital heart defects, including:
Patent foramen ovale (PFO): This is where a small hole between the left atrium (the lower chamber) and left ventricle (the upper chamber) allows blood to flow through the body without pumping it back into the body. The PFO can cause an abnormal P-wave on an echocardiogram and may lead to CHD if not treated early enough.
Ventricular septal defect (VSD): This is an opening between two parts of your ventricles that makes it easier for blood to mix inside these chambers during contraction. An enlarged VSD may cause an enlarged rightward or upward motion on an echocardiogram due to increased volume in one or both chambers.
Ebstein anomaly: The Ebstein anomaly is a congenital malformation that causes a valve to be malpositioned away from the left atrium, leading to pulmonary stenosis. This condition is only diagnosed by echocardiography, which can be performed during a scheduled prenatal ultrasound exam.
Truncus arteriosus: Truncus arteriosus is an uncommon defect that may occur in infants with down syndrome or other chromosomal disorders. The defect is characterized by an anomalous connection between the right and left pulmonary arteries. The right and left pulmonary arteries originate from separate primary vessels-the right pulmonary artery arises from the aorta while the left pulmonary artery arises from the left atrium. They then fuse together just before reaching their destination, which is usually the lungs.
Aortic valve stenosis: The aortic valve is located at the top of your heart, just below where your left and right atria connect. It’s responsible for regulating blood flow from your heart to your body. If there is too much pressure on this valve, it will cause it to become narrowed (stenotic). This can lead to poor blood flow and symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath (dyspnea).
An echocardiogram is a specialized ultrasound test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart. Echocardiograms provide important information about the structure and function of the heart, including heart size and shape, pulmonary vascular resistance, and left ventricular (LV) function (ejection fraction). Others include ventricular septal thickness and ventricular wall motion or deformation. If you want to know more about echocardiograms, reach out to Upper East Side Cardiology professionals.
