ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY Doppler

What is it
Echocardiography is a specialized ultrasound imaging of the heart. It is done with help of a blunt flexible probe which is rotated over chest to send ultrasound waves to heart and receive the reflected waves to construct the image of heart and its functioning in real time. It is called an non-invasive procedure since it does not involve any injections. Patient will lie down on an examining table. A technician places some lubricant and a transducer on the chest. The transducer beams high frequency sound waves at heart. This information is returned, or echoed, to the transducer and converted into a picture, which is recorded on videotape. Then the technician moves the transducer to several locations on chest until the picture is complete.

Why is it done?
An echocardiogram can show the size of the heart's chambers, the thickness of the chamber walls, how the chambers and heart valves are working, and if there is fluid collecting around the heart Hence it is done to see structural abnormalities of the heart, specially useful in people who have had a heart attack, hypertensive individuals or have valve diseases and for diseases of the pericardial covering of the heart.

When it is done/advised ?
Whenever there is any suspicion of the heart disease either structural or functional, Echocardiography is one of the first tools that a cardiologist advises

How to Avail ?
One has to dial 6825000, 6825004, and 6825005 and take an appointment for a suitable date for check-up. One may also fix up the appointment through the internet (ehirc.com).

Before ... Precautions & prerequisites
Ordinarily no specific preparation is required, however certain types of ECHO studies require fasting status. It is advisable to seek advice at the time of appointment