Heart Ultrasound

Ultrasound cardiac imaging or echocardiography is a non-invasive and completely painless diagnostic method used to examine the heart and large blood vessels of the heart. This examination can detect various damage to the heart and heart muscle, if present. The review takes about 30 minutes.

INDICATIONS / WHY USE?

• To detect heart valve disease, damage to the heart muscle, impaired mobility or immobility of a portion of the heart muscle (scar after heart attack), inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), inflammation of the heart valves (endocarditis), diseases of the large blood vessels in the heart, presence of blood clots pulmonary artery (pulmonary embolism).
• Detecting causes of problems such as shortness of breath or chest pain.
• Detection of congenital heart defects in the fetus during pregnancy (fetal heart ultrasound).

HOW DOES IT WORK?

• During the examination you will lie on your back or take a certain position (you will turn to your left side and place your left hand under your head).
• Your doctor will then place a special gel on the surface of the ultrasound probe. A probe is a small plastic device that sends and receives ultrasound waves. The gel has the role of improving the conductivity of ultrasound waves and eliminating air between the skin and the probe. Your doctor will put a probe on your chest to get a clear picture of your heart and large blood vessels.

POTENTIAL RISKS

• This procedure carries no risk.
• You may feel slight discomfort when you press the probe against the chest wall.

PREPARATION

• No special preparation is required for this review.• You can eat, drink and take your medicines.

AFTER THE HEART ULTRASOUND

After the review, you can return to your normal daily activities.