Contents:
- Medical Video: Echo MasterClass - Your introduction to advanced echocardiography
- What is echocardiography?
- What are the goals of echocardiography?
- What are the components of the echocardiography tool?
- How is this procedure done?
- How long does this procedure last?
- Does this procedure hurt? Are there any side effects?
- Who can't do this procedure?
- What preparations must be made before undergoing echocardiography?
- When are the results acceptable?
Medical Video: Echo MasterClass - Your introduction to advanced echocardiography
Your first impression when you hear a doctor recommends that you undergo a heart ultrasound may be just one: dumbfounded questions - not Ultrasound is only for checking pregnancy? Eits, not necessarily. Check out this article to find out more information about heart ultrasound, or also called echocardiography, including preparation, procedures, goals, and whether there are risks of side effects.
What is echocardiography?
Echocardiography is a device that can emit ultrasonic sound waves (to scan heart conditions, including their structure and function.That's why echocardiography is also referred to as cardiac ultrasound.
However, echocardiography is different from electrocardiography (ECG) or commonly called a heart record. Both have different functions, but often complement each other.
What are the goals of echocardiography?
With echocardiography, you can directly assess the function and structure of the heart (real-time) accurately.With this tool you can see whether your heart functions are good, especially if it's done after a heart attack. Echocardiography can also tell you how the heart valve moves, the heart wall, and how well the blood flow in the heart chambers.
What are the components of the echocardiography tool?
The heart ultrasound device is the same as the abdominal ultrasound or pregnant device - consisting of joystick scanner (probe) connected cable to touch the body and computer screen of the data reader. But formprobe this is a little different from the usual probe used on abdominal ultrasound. The probe on the echocardiography device is smaller. This joystick is in charge of removing ultrasonic sound waves that will enter the body and bounce again as image data that appears on the machine screen.
How is this procedure done?
You will be asked to undress from the chest to the waist and then lie on the bed. The doctor will put it down probe above the gel that has been given a gel. This gel is meant for tools probe can stick well to the skin so that the quality and dimensions of the images obtained will be maximum. The doctor will move probe on your chest to get the look needed to assess the function and structure of the heart.
How long does this procedure last?
This procedure is usually done for 15-30 minutes, depending on whether the doctor has enough information about the function and structure of your heart.
Does this procedure hurt? Are there any side effects?
Ultrasound of the heart does not cause any pain. In general, there are no side effects from this procedure.
Who can't do this procedure?
In general, echocardiography does not have a special prohibition, which means that everyone can and can do it if needed. But in certain conditions, the accuracy of the results displayed by this tool may not be optimal in overweight people (obese), or those who are very thin. Because the amount of body fat can affect the smooth delivery of sound waves.
What preparations must be made before undergoing echocardiography?
There are no special things that must be prepared before undergoing this procedure. You can eat and drink anything before and after. You also don't need to fast.
When are the results acceptable?
The results of the cardiac ultrasound examination can be directly seen on the monitor screen and will be interpreted by the doctor who performed this procedure. However, the scan results that are considered meaningful or important for diagnosis / follow-up care will be printed in the form of photographs as documentation.
