You may hear a pulsing 'whoosh,' which is the ultrasound recording the blood flowing through your heart.

The technician will move the transducer back and forth over your chest to record images of sound-wave echoes from your heart.

The technician will also apply a gel to the transducer that improves the conduction of sound waves.

The technician will attach sticky patches (electrodes) to your body to help detect and conduct your heart's electrical currents.

You'll undress from the waist up and lie on an examination table or bed.

What you can expect During the procedureĪn echocardiogram can be done in the doctor's office or a hospital.įor a standard transthoracic echocardiogram: If you're having a transesophageal echocardiogram, you won't be able to drive afterward because of the medication you'll likely receive. If you're having a transesophageal echocardiogram, your doctor will ask you not to eat for several hours beforehand. You can eat, drink and take medications as you normally would. No special preparations are necessary for a standard transthoracic echocardiogram. Serious complications, such as a heart attack, are rare. Your oxygen level will be monitored during the exam to check for any breathing problems caused by sedation medication.ĭuring a stress echocardiogram, exercise or medication - not the echocardiogram itself - may temporarily cause an irregular heartbeat. Rarely, the tube may scrape the inside of your throat. If you have a transesophageal echocardiogram, your throat may be sore for a few hours afterward.

The firmness is necessary to produce the best images of your heart. You may feel some discomfort from the transducer being held very firmly against your chest. No risks are involved in a standard transthoracic echocardiogram. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Risks Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect.Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum.Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension).Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).If you're unable to exercise, you may get an injection of a medication to make your heart pump as hard as if you were exercising.Ultrasound images of your heart are taken before and immediately after you walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike.However, an echocardiogram can't provide information about any blockages in the heart's arteries. Your doctor might recommend a stress echocardiogram to check for coronary artery problems. Some heart problems - particularly those involving the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle (coronary arteries) - occur only during physical activity. The blood flow shown on the monitor is colorized to help your doctor pinpoint any problems. Doppler techniques can also be used to check blood flow problems and blood pressure in the arteries of your heart - which traditional ultrasound might not detect. These changes (Doppler signals) can help your doctor measure the speed and direction of the blood flow in your heart.ĭoppler techniques are generally used in transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms. Sound waves change pitch when they bounce off blood cells moving through your heart and blood vessels. A computer converts the echoes into detailed moving images of your heart, which your doctor can view on a monitor.

A flexible tube containing a transducer is guided down your throat and into the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach (esophagus).Your throat will be numbed, and you'll be given medications to help you relax.If your doctor wants more-detailed images or it's difficult to get a clear picture of your heart with a standard echocardiogram, your doctor may recommend a transesophageal echocardiogram. The enhancing agent, which is generally safe and well tolerated, will make your heart's structures show up more clearly on a monitor. If your lungs or ribs block the view, you may need a small amount of an enhancing agent injected through an intravenous (IV) line. A computer converts the echoes into moving images on a monitor.The transducer records the sound wave echoes from your heart.The sonographer presses the transducer firmly against your skin, aiming an ultrasound beam through your chest to your heart.A technician (sonographer) spreads gel on a device (transducer).The type of echocardiogram you have depends on the information your doctor needs. Detect congenital heart defects before birth (fetal echocardiogram).

Check if heart problems are the cause of symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain.Check for problems with the valves or chambers of your heart.Your doctor may suggest an echocardiogram to:

Cardiograph function