ECHO-CARDIOGRAPHY
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. 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.
Indications for an Echocardiogram include
- 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
- Heart murmur
- Previous myocardial infarction/heart failure
