Echocardiogram intro & Types/ study of heart
- 2. Introduction: An echocardiogram, or "echo", is a scan used to look at the heart and nearby blood vessels. It's a type of ultrasound scan, which means a small probe is used to send out high- frequency sound waves that create echoes when they bounce off different parts of the body.
- 3. Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram can help diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions by checking the structure of the heart and surrounding blood vessels, analyzing how blood flows through them, and assessing the pumping chambers of the heart.
- 4. During the Procedure: Generally, an echocardiogram follows this process: 1.The patient will be asked to remove any jewelry or other objects that may interfere with the procedure. You may wear glasses or hearing aids. 2.The patient is to remove clothing and will be given a gown to wear. 3. lie on a table or bed, positioned on the left side. A pillow or wedge may be placed behind your back for support.
- 5. 4. You will be connected to an ECG monitor that records the electrical activity of your heart and monitors your heart during the procedure using small, adhesive electrodes. The ECG record of the electrical activity of the heart will be compared to the images displayed on the echocardiogram monitor. 5. The technologist will place warmed gel on the chest and then place the transducer probe on the gel. 6. During the test, the technologist will move the transducer probe around and apply varying amounts of pressure to obtain images of different locations and structures of the heart. The amount of pressure behind the probe should not be uncomfortable. You should let the technologist know if they are uncomfortable.
- 6. Generation Of An Ultrasound Image: • Echocardiography (echo or echocardiogram) is a type of ultrasound test that uses high- pitched sound waves to produce an image of the heart. • The sound waves are sent through a device called a transducer (probe) and are reflected off the various structures of the heart. These echoes are converted into pictures of the heart that can be seen on a video monitor. • There is no special preparation for the test.
- 7. An echocardiogram can help detect: • Damage from a heart attack where the supply of blood to the heart was suddenly blocked • Heart failure where the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure • Congenital heart disease birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart • Problems with the heart valves, problems affecting the valves that control the flow of blood within the heart
- 8. cardiomyopathy where the heart walls become thickened or enlarged. Endocarditis is an infection in the lining of the heart which damages the heart valves. An echocardiogram can also help your doctors decide on the best treatment for these conditions.
- 9. There are 5 basic components of an ultrasound scanner that are required for the generation, display, and storage of an ultrasound image. • 1. Pulse generator - applies high amplitude voltage to energize the crystals • 2. Transducer - converts electrical energy to mechanical (ultrasound) energy and vice versa • 3. Receiver - detects and amplifies weak signals • 4. Display - displays ultrasound signals in a variety of modes • 5. Memory - stores video display.
- 10. 1. Pulse generator - applies high amplitude voltage to energize the crystals 2. Transducer - converts electrical energy to mechanical (ultrasound) energy and vice versa
- 11. Types of echocardiograms: Transthoracic Echo (TTE) Transesophageal echocardiogram (EET) Fetal echocardiogram Stress echocardiogram Doppler echocardiogram M-mode echocardiogram
- 12. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE): Transthoracic is the most common type of echocardiogram and is noninvasive, taking place entirely outside your body. A team member applies gel to your chest and then uses a handheld transducer to scan your heart.
- 13. Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE): Sometimes the best approach is to guide a special ultrasound probe into your mouth and down your esophagus after sedation. We can take better images because the esophagus and heart sit close together and the sound waves do not need to pass through skin, muscle, or bone. TEE is a better choice for some conditions. We may also need to see a specific part of the heart with greater resolution. Additionally, obesity and lung disease can interfere with standard echocardiography.
- 14. Doppler echocardiogram: This technique is used to measure and assess the flow of blood through the heart's chambers and valves. The amount of blood pumped out with each beat is an indication of the heart's functioning. Also, Doppler can detect abnormal blood flow within the heart, which can indicate a problem with one or more of the heart's four valves, or with the heart's walls.
- 15. Stress echocardiogram: We may need to run an echocardiogram as part of a comprehensive stress test that deliberately increases your heart rate and blood pressure. We take two sets of images, one at rest, and another after working out on a treadmill or stationary bike. If your health prevents such physical activity, we inject a medication that mimics the effect of exercise. This test is called a pharmacologic stress echocardiogram.
- 16. M-mode echocardiogram: This is the simplest type of echocardiography, produces an image that is similar to a tracing rather than an actual picture of heart structures. M-mode echo is useful for measuring heart structures, such as the heart's pumping chambers, the size of the heart itself, and the thickness of the heart walls.
- 17. M-Mode Echo: The line is placed along the structures to be studied. The image will display all structures along that line over time (the x-axis displays time). Since M-mode only analyzes a single ultrasound line, its temporal and axial resolution is very high, as compared with 2D echocardiography. M-mode is useful for quantifying the mobility of structures and measuring dimensions. In order to obtain representative measurements, it is pivotal to align the M-mode line such that it does not overestimate distances; e.g measuring the thickness of the left ventricular walls requires the line to be placed perpendicular to the long axis of the left ventricle, as illustrated in m-mode echo above slide given figure.
- 18. Fetal echocardiogram: A fetal echocardiogram (also called a fetal echo) uses sound waves to create pictures of an unborn baby's heart. This painless ultrasound test shows the structure of the heart and how well it's working.
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