Ultrasound Cardiac
Ultrasound Menu
General | Vascular | Venous | Carotid | Cardiac | Arterial
- What is Cardiac Ultrasound Imaging?
- How should I prepare for the procedure?
- What does the equipment look like?
- How does the procedure work?
- How is the procedure performed?
- What will I experience during and after the procedure?
- Who interprets the results and how do I get them?
- What are the benefits vs. risks?
- Which Health Diagnostics facilities offer this service?
What is Cardiac
Ultrasound Imaging?
A cardiac ultrasound examination is called an echocardiogram.
This is a safe, non-invasive procedure used to examine your
heart and potentially diagnose problems. It uses high-frequency
sound waves (ultrasound) to literally see all four chambers
of the heart, the heart valves, the great blood vessels entering
and leaving the heart, as well as the sack around the heart.
There are many reasons that your physician may request that
you have an echocardiography examination. Physicians use echocardiography
to look for abnormalities in the large physical structures of
the heart, including the heart chambers and valves. An echocardiogram
may sometimes also be used to look for the cause of an abnormal
heart sound (a murmur), to check the size of the heart chambers,
to check for fluid around the heart, or to inspect the pumping
capability (the muscles) of the heart if a patient is short
of breath or has complained of certain symptoms during exertion.
The information obtained through an echocardiography examination
is extremely helpful to physicians in diagnosing a variety of
conditions related to cardiovascular disease; disorders of the
heart and blood vessels. Early detection of life-threatening
heart disorders and disease is possible through the use of echocardiography
procedures performed within echocardiography laboratories. Echocardiography's
reliability in diagnosing conditions related to heart disease
and stroke is encouraging as we strive for ways to reduce the
more than 500,000 lives lost in the United States each year
to these disorders.
How should I
prepare for the procedure?
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for
your ultrasound exam. You will need to remove all clothing and
jewelry in the area to be examined.
You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.
What does the
equipment look like?
Ultrasound scanners consist of a console containing a
computer and electronics, a video display screen and a transducer
that is used to scan the body. The transducer is a small hand-held
device that resembles a microphone, attached to the scanner by
a cord. The transducer sends out a high frequency sound wave and
then listens for a returning sound wave or "echo".
The ultrasound image is immediately visible on a nearby screen
that looks much like a computer or television monitor. The image
is created based on the amplitude (strength), frequency and time
it takes for the sound signal to return from the patient to the
transducer.
How does the
procedure work?
Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles involved
in the sonar used by bats, ships and fishermen. When a sound wave
strikes an object, it bounces backward, or echoes. By measuring
these echo waves it is possible to determine how far away the
object is and its size, shape, consistency (whether the object
is solid, filled with fluid or both) and uniformity.
In medicine, ultrasound is used to detect changes in appearance
and function of organs, tissues, or abnormal masses, such as tumors.
In an ultrasound examination, a transducer both sends the sound
waves and records the echoing waves. When the transducer is pressed
against the skin, it directs a stream of inaudible, high-frequency
sound waves into the body. As the sound waves bounce off of internal
organs, fluids and tissues, the sensitive microphone in the transducer
records tiny changes in the sound's pitch and direction. These
signature waves are instantly measured and displayed by a computer,
which in turn creates a real-time picture on the monitor. These
live images are usually recorded on videotape and one or more
frames of the moving pictures are typically captured as still
images.
Doppler ultrasound, a special application of ultrasound, measures
the direction and speed of blood cells as they move through vessels.
The movement of blood cells causes a change in pitch of the reflected
sound waves (Doppler effect). A computer collects and processes
the sounds and creates graphs or pictures that represent the flow
of blood through the blood vessels.
How is the procedure
performed?
For most ultrasound exams, the patient is positioned lying
face-up on an examination table that can be tilted or moved.
A clear gel is applied to the area of the body being studied to
help the transducer make secure contact with the body and eliminate
air pockets between the transducer and the skin. The sonographer
(ultrasound technologist) or radiologist then presses the transducer
firmly against the skin and sweeps it back and forth over the area
of interest. The examination is completed within an hour.
What will I
experience during and after the procedure?
Most ultrasound examinations are painless, fast and easy.
After you are positioned on the examination table, the radiologist
or sonographer will spread some warm gel on your skin and then
press the transducer firmly against your body, moving it back
and forth over the area of interest until the desired images are
captured. There may be varying degrees of discomfort from pressure
as the transducer is pressed against the area being examined.
If scanning is performed over an area of tenderness, you may feel
pressure or minor pain from the procedure. If a Doppler ultrasound
study is performed, you may actually hear pulse-like sounds that
change in pitch as the blood flow is monitored and measured. Once
the imaging is complete, the gel will be wiped off your skin.
After an ultrasound exam, you should be able to resume your normal
activities.
Who interprets
the results and how do I get them?
A radiologist, a physician specifically trained to supervise
and interpret radiology examinations, will analyze the images
and send a signed report to your primary care or referring physician,
who will share the results with you.
What are the benefits
vs. risks?
Benefits
- Ultrasound scanning is noninvasive (no needles or injections) and is usually painless.
- Ultrasound is widely available, easy-to-use and less expensive than other imaging methods.
- Ultrasound imaging uses no ionizing radiation.
- Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images.
- Ultrasound causes no health problems and may be repeated as often as is necessary if medically indicated.
- Ultrasound is the preferred imaging modality for the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnant women and their unborn infants.
- Ultrasound provides real-time imaging, making it a good tool
for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies
and needle aspiration of fluid in joints or elsewhere.
Risks
- For standard diagnostic ultrasound there are no known harmful effects on humans.
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