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Serious complications, such as a heart attack, are rare. No special preparations are necessary for a standard transthoracic echocardiogram. You can eat, drink and take medications as you normally would.
If you're having a transesophageal echocardiogram, your doctor will ask you not to eat for several hours beforehand. If you're having a transesophageal echocardiogram, you won't be able to drive afterward because of the medication you'll likely receive. Be sure to arrange for a ride home. Most echocardiograms take less than an hour. If you have a transesophageal echocardiogram, you may be watched for a few hours at the doctor's office or hospital after the test.
If your echocardiogram is normal, no further testing may be needed. If the results are concerning, you may be referred to a doctor trained in heart conditions cardiologist for more tests. Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. Doppler echocardiography. This Doppler technique is used to measure and assess the flow of blood through the heart's chambers and valves.
The amount of blood pumped out with each beat is an indication of the heart's functioning. Also, Doppler can detect abnormal blood flow within the heart, which can indicate a problem with one or more of the heart's four valves, or with the heart's walls. Color Doppler. Color Doppler is an enhanced form of Doppler echocardiography. With color Doppler, different colors are used to designate the direction of blood flow.
This simplifies the interpretation of the Doppler technique. This technique is used to "see" the actual motion of the heart structures. A 2-D echo view appears cone-shaped on the monitor, and the real-time motion of the heart's structures can be observed.
This enables the doctor to see the various heart structures at work and evaluate them. The live or "real time" images allow for a more accurate assessment of heart function by using measurements taken while the heart is beating.
A gradual clogging of the arteries by fatty materials and other substances in the blood stream. It can lead to problems in the wall motion or pumping function of your heart. Congenital heart disease. Defects in one or more heart structures that occur during formation of the fetus, such as a ventricular septal defect hole in the wall between the 2 lower chambers of the heart.
Heart failure. A condition in which the heart muscle has become weakened or stiff during heart relaxation and blood can't be pumped efficiently.
This can cause fluid buildup congestion in the blood vessels and lungs, and edema swelling in the feet, ankles, and other parts of the body. A widening and weakening of a part of the heart muscle or the aorta the large artery that carries oxygenated blood out of the heart to the rest of the body. The aneurysm may be at risk for rupture. Heart valve disease. Although it has a similar name, an echocardiogram is not the same as an electrocardiogram ECG , which is a test used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity.
An echocardiogram can help diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions by checking the structure of the heart and surrounding blood vessels, analysing how blood flows through them and assessing the pumping chambers of the heart. There are several different ways an echocardiogram can be carried out, but most people will have a transthoracic echocardiogram TTE.
This procedure is outlined below. You won't usually need to do anything to prepare for the test, unless you're having a transoesophageal echocardiogram. For a TTE, you'll be asked to remove any clothing covering your upper half before lying down on a bed. You may be offered a hospital gown to cover yourself during the test. When you're lying down, several small sticky sensors called electrodes will be attached to your chest.
These will be connected to a machine that monitors your heart rhythm during the test. A lubricating gel will be applied to your chest or directly to the ultrasound probe. You'll be asked to lie on your left side and the probe will be moved across your chest. Your blood pressure, the oxygen content of your blood, and other vital signs will be checked during the test.
You'll be given oxygen through a tube in your nose. If you wear dentures or partials, you'll have to remove them. The back of your mouth will be numbed with gel or spray. Your doctor will gently place the tube with the transducer in your throat and guide it down until it's in place behind your heart. The pictures of your heart are then recorded as your doctor moves the transducer around in your esophagus and stomach.
You shouldn't feel any discomfort as this happens. Although the imaging usually takes less than an hour, you may be watched for a few hours at the doctor's office or hospital after the test.
Stress echo is a transthoracic echo combined with either an exercise or pharmacological FAR-ma-ko-LOJ-ih-kal stress test. For an exercise stress test, you'll walk or run on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike to make your heart work hard and beat fast.
For a pharmacological stress test, you'll be given medicine to increase your heart rate. A technician will take pictures of your heart using echo before you exercise and as soon as you finish.
The Health Topics Stress Testing article provides more information about what to expect during a stress test. As the doctor or sonographer moves the transducer around, you will see different views of your heart on the screen of the echo machine.
The structures of your heart will appear as white objects, while any fluid or blood will appear black on the screen. Doppler ultrasound often is used during echo tests.
Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound that shows how blood is flowing through the blood vessels. This test allows the sonographer to see blood flowing at different speeds and in different directions.
The speed and direction of blood flow appear as different colors moving within the black and white images. The human ear is unable to hear the sound waves used in echo. If you have a Doppler ultrasound, you may be able to hear "whooshing" sounds. Your doctor can use these sounds to learn about blood flow through your heart. If you have a transesophageal echo TEE , you may be watched for a few hours at the doctor's office or hospital after the test.
Your throat might be sore for a few hours after the test. You also may not be able to drive for a short time after having TEE. Your doctor will let you know whether you need to arrange for a ride home. Echocardiography echo shows the size, structure, and movement of various parts of your heart. These parts include the heart valves, the septum the wall separating the right and left heart chambers , and the walls of the heart chambers.
Doppler ultrasound shows the movement of blood through your heart. Echo can detect many heart problems. Some might be minor and pose no risk to you. Others can be signs of serious heart disease or other heart conditions. Your doctor may use echo to learn about:. Transthoracic and fetal echocardiography echo have no risks.
These tests are safe for adults, children, and infants. If you have a transesophageal echo TEE , some risks are associated with the medicine given to help you relax. For example, you may have a bad reaction to the medicine, problems breathing, and nausea feeling sick to your stomach.
Your throat also might be sore for a few hours after the test. Rarely, the tube used during TEE causes minor throat injuries. Stress echo has some risks, but they're related to the exercise or medicine used to raise your heart rate, not the echo.
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