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Echocardiography uses sound waves to create an image of the beating heart.
What is it?
Echocardiography uses sound waves to create an image of the beating heart. It is an ultrasound of the heart. Doctors are able to view the heart in action in real time. This enables diagnosis of a number of serious problems.
Why is it done?
An echo is usually ordered if the Intensive care doctors suspect a problem within the cardiovascular system. However there may be a more general problem such as shock.
An echo is able to detect:
- Structural abnormalities in the heart including the heart muscle and valves;
- Blood flow abnormalities
- Cardiac output (volume of blood pumped by the heart)
- Volume of blood in the heart.
Abnormal Conditions that can be identified include:
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- Blood Clots within the heart
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- Aortic Valve abnormalities
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- Defects in the heart muscle walls
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What is done?
Patients can have the echo in their beds or in a special unit set up for this purpose. The patient is positioned lying down on their left side when they are undergoing a trans thoracic echocardiography (TTE). They will have several electrodes to record heart rate applied to the chest and connected to the machine A trained sonographer applies a small probe to the chest wall in several places around the heart. A small amount of pressure will be applied. This probe emits high frequency sound waves and records the changes to these sound waves as they return to the probe. A small amount of electrode gel is used to assist this. The echocardiography machine converts these impulses into a digital image of the moving heart. An echo will usually take around twenty minutes to perform. If a patient has an abnormal chest cage or is obese there may be problems getting an accurate picture.
A more invasive examination is a transosephageal echo (TOE). In this test the ultrasound probe is in a long flexible tube that is passed down the oesphagus. This allows for much better pictures of the heart because of the closer proximity of the probe to the heart. A very light anaesthetic is given to a conscious patient to make them more comfortable. A doctor trained in this procedure performs this test and a nurse assists them.
What are the risks?
There are generally no risks to the patient when undergoing trans thoracic echocardiography (TTE). A transosephageal echo (TOE) carries a minor risk as a light anaesthetic is given. This will be explained further by the doctor performing the test.
How long before the results are back?
Some intensive care doctors are also trained in echocardiography and will be able to interpret the echocardiogram immediately in emergency situations. If the situation is not an emergency the results will be available within a number of hours. The results will be discussed with you if there are significant problems.
Any Questions?
Of course, if you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with the ICU nurses and doctors
Echo Version 1.1 August 2005 (K Rolls CNC ICCMU) First posted October 200, revised July 2009
The information contained on this page is general in nature and therefore cannot reflect individual patient variation. In addition it reflects Australian intensive care practice which may differ from other countries. It is meant as a back up to specific information which will be discussed with you by the Doctors and Nurses caring for your loved one. ICCMU attests to the accuracy of the information contained here BUT takes no responsibility for how it may apply to an individual patient. Please refer to the full disclaimer.
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