Professor Jamil Mayet
Consultant Cardiologist
Specialist expertise: Breathlessness, Cardiovascular CT Scans, Cardiac CT, Cardiac Imaging, Cardiology, Chest Pain, Hypertension, Palpitations.
Echocardiography
An echocardiogram (echo) is an ultrasound scan of the heart and nearby blood vessels to assess their structure and function.
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Why might I need an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram is an ideal diagnostic test for anyone who wishes to have a general heart check. Additionally, if you have a family history of heart disease, if you have risk factors for cardiac disease, or cardiac symptoms such as chest pain or palpitations, we recommend you get an echocardiogram to ascertain the cause.
Your GP may also recommend having an echocardiogram.
What does a typical appointment involve?
For an echocardiogram, you’ll be offered a chaperone, asked to removed clothing covering the upper half and given a gown open at the front. You’ll be asked to lie on the couch. Three small stickers will be attached to your chest to monitor your heart rate and rhythm during the test. You usually will be asked to lie on the left side. This is to improve the image quality of the echocardiogram. Images will be taken by placing the ultrasound gel and probe on your chest.
What are the benefits of having an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram can detect:
- Damaged heart muscle from a previous heart attack
- A heart that is not pumping blood well
- An enlarged heart
- An enlarged aorta
- Valve abnormalities
- Valve infections
- Holes in the heart
Other types of echocardiogram
There are two other variations of echocardiogram available at OneWelbeck Heart Health:
A stress echocardiogram carried out during exercise or after being given and injection of medication which makes the work harder. It is used to detect coronary artery disease and can show if there is narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the heart.
Bubble echocardiogram or bubble study
A bubble echocardiogram is carried out to detect holes between the top chambers of the heart. An echocardiogram is performed whilst a small amount of saline is injected into the bloodstream through a cannula in the arm. The saline and blood are mixed to create microbubbles which can be seen to enter the right size of the heart; if they pass to the left side a hole in the heart is confirmed.
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