Echocardiogram (Investigations)

• Echocardiogram pt1:

  • uses sound waves to build up a picture of the heart
  • there are different types of echoes, but most people have a standard echo, which is known as transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)
  • a standard echo looks at the structures of the heart and also shows how well your heart is pumping, especially your ventricles as they pump blood around the body
  • helps diagnose heart conditions such as heart valve disease, heart failure, inherited heart conditions and congenital heart diseases and looks at the impact of these conditions on your heart
• Echocardiogram pt2:

  • an echo can take from 15 minutes to an hour
  • is a common safe test, with no risks/side effects
  • need to wear a hospital gown as you need to remove all clothing from your top half
  • electrodes are placed on your chest and attached to wires from an echo machine - this monitors your hear rate and rhythm
  • probe and gel used on your chest around your heart - gives off high frequency sound waves which pass through your skin to your heart, showing them as images on a screen
• Echocardiogram:

  • Ejection fraction (EF) is a measurement, expressed as a percentage, of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction
  • An ejection fraction of 60 percent means that 60 percent of the total amount of blood in the left ventricle is pushed out with each heartbeat
  • EF%
  • > 50% = good left ventricular function
  • 35 - 49% = moderate left ventricular function
  • < 35% = poor left ventricular function respective