An echocardiogram is a non-invasive imaging technique used to evaluate the heart's function and structure. It is one of the most commonly performed cardiac diagnostic tests and is often used to diagnose and monitor various heart conditions.
There are different techniques that are used by the doctor during echocardiography including 2D, 3D, Doppler, and strain echocardiography, to provide detailed and accurate information about the heart's structures and functions. Echocardiography plays a crucial role in diagnosing and monitoring various heart conditions, and it is an essential tool in the field of cardiology.
There are several types of echocardiograms, each offering unique benefits in diagnosing and managing heart diseases. Common types of echocardiograms involve -
Echocardiograms are used to evaluate the heart's function and structure and diagnose various heart conditions such as -
The doctor may use different techniques in echocardiography, some of which are as follows -
BM Birla Heart Research Centre is a super speciality hospital with modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art technology in Kolkata. BM Birla Heart Research Centre is the only hospital offering super speciality cardiac care in the entire eastern India. With a 200+ bed capacity, cardiac rehabilitation services, cath labs and modular OTs, BM Birla Heart Research Centre has made a mark with its singular focus on the treatment of a variety of cardiac ailments. Here are a few advantages of choosing BM Birla Heart Research Centre for an Echocardiogram in Kolkata -
An echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram (ECG) are both used to check your heart but produce different types of visuals. An echocardiogram produces moving pictures of your heart whereas EKG produces a graph, rather than pictures of the heart.
An echocardiogram can help detect the following heart conditions -
No, an echocardiogram is a non-invasive procedure that uses sound waves at high frequencies to assess the heart's function and structures.
Echocardiograms are usually painless and safe procedures which do not involve any invasion. However, you may feel minor discomfort when the doctor removes electrodes that are taped to the skin.
An echocardiogram usually takes 40 to 60 minutes. However, the time can vary depending on the severity of the condition, patient’s health, etc. On the other hand, transesophageal echo may take up to 90 minutes.
This surgical procedure is recommended for patients who have a higher risk or are too sick, or too old for open heart surgery. It was first tested in 2002 on patients with severe aortic stenosis (a narrowing of the aortic valve opening), who were considered unfit for open heart surgery.
Heart failure is a serious condition marked by the inefficiency of the heart muscles to pump blood to different parts of the body. Also referred to as congestive heart failure, the condition can prove to be life-threatening if not addressed immediately. Such patients are often recommended to undergo a heart transplant, a surgical procedure that involves the replacement of a diseased or non-functional part of the patient’s heart with a healthy heart taken from a deceased donor.
Over the past few decades, various innovations and advancements in the field of cardiology have helped us to learn more and more about the human heart, its functioning, and the diseases that affect it.