Reasons why the test is performed
This procedure is performed to evaluate the valves and chambers of the heart in a noninvasive manner. The echocardiogram allows doctors to diagnose, assess and monitor:
- Murmurs
- Abnormal heart valves
- The heart’s pumping function for people with heart failure
- Myocardial damage in patients who have had heart attacks
- Infection in the sac around the heart (pericarditis)
- Infection in or around the heart valves (endocarditis)
- The source of a blood clot or emboli after stroke or transient ischemic attack
- Congenital heart disease
- Atrial fibrillation
- Pulmonary Hypertension
Normal
A normal echocardiogram shows the chambers and valves of the heart in normal and normal movement of the heart walls.
Abnormal results
An abnormal echocardiogram can mean many things. Some abnormalities are very small and do not pose significant risks, while others are signs of serious heart disease that require further evaluation by a specialist. Therefore, it is very important to discuss the results of your echocardiogram in depth with your doctor.
Risk
There are no known risks associated with this test.
Considerations
Abnormal results may indicate disease of the heart valves, cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion, or other cardiac abnormalities. This test can be carried out for the following conditions:
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
Aortic Dissection
Aortic insufficiency
Aortic stenosis
Arrhythmias
Arterial embolism
Fibrillation / atrial flutter
Atrial myxoma
Septal
Cardiac tamponade
Cardiomyopathy
Coarctation of the aorta
Heart attack
Heart failure
Hypertensive heart disease
Acute mitral regurgitation
Mitral stenosis
Mitral valve prolapse
Ductus arteriosus
Bacterial Pericarditis
Constrictive Pericarditis
Pericarditis after heart attack
Peripartum cardiomyopathy
Primary amyloidosis
Primary pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary valve stenosis
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Right heart failure
Secondary systemic amyloidosis
Senile cardiac amyloidosis
Stroke
Tetralogy of Fallot
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Transposition of great vessels
Tricuspid regurgitation
Septal
Source: www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_adam.jspzQzpgzEzzSzppdocszSzuszSzcnszSzcontentzSzadamfullzSzadam_ency_espzSz5zSz003869zPzhtm
image source: www.fi.edu/learn/heart/monitor/images/echo.jpg
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