Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a test in which ultrasound is used to examine the heart. In addition to providing single-dimension images, the echocardiogram also offers far more sophisticated and advanced imaging, referred to as "two-dimensional (2-D) echo." A 2-D Echocardiogram is capable of displaying a cross-sectional "slice" of the beating heart, including the chambers, valves and the major blood vessels that exit from the left and right ventricles.
During an echocardiogram, sticky patches (electrodes) are attached to the chest and shoulders and connected to wires. These help to record the electrocardiogram (EKG) during the echocardiography test. The EKG helps record the timing of various cardiac events, such as the filling and emptying of chambers. Next, a colorless gel is applied to the chest and the echo transducer is placed on top of it. The echo technologist then makes recordings from different parts of the chest to obtain several views of the heart. Images of the heart are visible on a monitor during the test and are also recorded on both photographic paper as well as videotape, offering a permanent record of the examination, which is reviewed by the physician prior to completion of the final report.