Echocardiogram

What is it?
An echocardiogram, also called an echo or heart ultrasound is a test that takes “moving pictures” of the heart with sound waves. Qualified sonographers perform the testing daily in our rooms.

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Why is it done?

Indications for an echocardiogram include

• Heart murmur
• Previous myocardial infarction/heart failure
• Unexplained chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness or leg swelling.
  
• Previous valve replacement/cardiac surgery
  
• Hypertension
  
• Rheumatic heart disease
  
• Congenital heart defects
  
• Abnormal chest x-ray with enlarged cardiac shadow
  
• Progress assessment of valvular heart disease
  

The test normally takes 30-40 minutes.

The sonographer will place a probe onto the chest and take a series of moving images of the heart and the valves.

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