ECHOCARDIOLOGY DIAGNOSTICS

A Heart Ultrasound

How Long Will It Last: Usually about 30 minutes

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How Do I Prepare: You do not need to prepare in advance for an echo. You will be asked to remove your clothing above the waist. 

Why We Do An Echo​

• If you have abnormal heart sounds, an enlarged heart, chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeats.

• To see how thick the heart wall is and how it moves.

• To check how your natural or artificial heart valve is working.

• To measure the heart's size and shape and chambers.

• To check the ability of your heart chambers to pump blood.

• To Diagnose a disease affecting the heart muscle and the how it pumps.

• To look for blood clots and tumours inside the heart.

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An Enhanced Echocardiogram.

Your doctor may also want an enhanced echocardiogram. A solution is used during an echocardiogram to see the flow of blood through the heart and the heart muscle better. Definity solution is administered with an IV for this process.

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