Prab at 18:34, 19 March 2025

2025-03-19T18:34:51Z

Prab at 14:09, 21 May 2023

2023-05-21T14:09:07Z

New page

[[File:Ventricular Septal Defect.jpg|right|thumb|An abnormal echocardiogram: Image shows a midmuscular [[ventricular septal defect]]. The trace in the lower left shows the [[cardiac cycle]] and the red mark the time in the cardiac cycle when the image was captured. Colors are used to represent the velocity and direction of blood flow.]]
'''Echocardiography''' is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique that uses ultrasound waves to produce visual images of the heart. It includes two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), and Doppler ultrasound techniques, providing a wealth of information about the structure and function of the heart. <ref name="Mayo">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/echocardiogram/about/pac-20393856|title=Echocardiogram|publisher=Mayo Clinic|access-date=2023-05-19}}</ref>

==Types of Echocardiography==
===Two-Dimensional Echocardiography===
2D echocardiography generates a flat image of a section of the heart, providing details of its internal structures.

===Three-Dimensional Echocardiography===
3D echocardiography produces a detailed and realistic image of the heart, offering a more comprehensive view of its structures and functionality.

===Doppler Echocardiography===
Doppler echocardiography measures the speed and direction of blood flow within the heart, highlighting areas with abnormal blood flow patterns, such as those resulting from damaged heart valves.<ref name="Doppler">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482177/|title=Doppler Echocardiography|publisher=National Center for Biotechnology Information|access-date=2023-05-19}}</ref>

==Clinical Applications==
Echocardiography can detect a variety of heart conditions and abnormalities, including:

Areas of heart muscle with poor contractility due to inadequate blood supply or previous heart attack.
Possible blood clots within the heart.
Fluid accumulation in the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart.
Aortic problems, as the aorta is the main artery that transports oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.<ref name="Mayo"/>
==Procedure==
During an echocardiogram, a technician places a transducer that emits high-frequency sound waves onto the patient's chest. These sound waves bounce off the heart structures, and the returning echoes are converted into images on a screen.

==Limitations and Risks==
Echocardiography is a safe procedure with minimal risks. However, it may not provide accurate information in patients with certain conditions, like obesity or lung disease, which can interfere with the transmission of sound waves.<ref name="AHA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/diagnosing-a-heart-attack/echocardiogram-echo|title=Echocardiogram (Echo)|publisher=American Heart Association|access-date=2023-05-19}}</ref>

==See Also==

* [[Cardiac Stress Test]]
* [[Cardiac MRI]]
* [[Cardiac Catheterization]]
==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Cardiology]]
[[Category:Medical Imaging]]
==External links==
* [http://pie.med.utoronto.ca/tee VIRTUAL TEE – online self-study and teaching resource]
* [http://pie.med.utoronto.ca/tte VIRTUAL Transthoracic Echocardiography - online self-study and teaching resource]
* [http://www.echobasics.de/ Echobasics – free online echocardiography tutorial]
* [http://www.ct2tee.agh.edu.pl/ CT2TEE – transesophageal echocardiography simulator]

{{stub}}
{{Cardiac procedures}}

[[Category:Cardiac imaging]]
[[Category:Medical ultrasonography]]
[[Category:Radiology]]
[[Category:Cardiology]]

Echocardiography - Revision history

Prab at 18:34, 19 March 2025

Prab at 14:09, 21 May 2023