Echocardiogram

Echocardiogram (also called cardiac echo)  is an ultrasound examination of the heart that produces detailed images of the organ. It uses a microphone-like device (transducer) to transmit and receive sound waves that travel through the chest wall to the heart, and then are reflected back. The reflected sound waves are translated into images of the heart, including the aortic valve, chambers, and walls.

Echocardiogram is used to detect abnormalities in the structure of the heart, to assess thickening of the walls, to measure the pressure change (gradient) between the left ventricle and the aorta, to measure the amount of dilation (increased diameter) of the left ventricle, and to measure the ejection fraction (the percentage of blood ejected from the left ventricle with each heart beat).

Echocardiogram may be used in the diagnosis of aortic stenosis, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, endocarditis, heart attack, and pericarditis.