Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram diagnoses an enlarged heart and other cardiac abnormalities that cause chest pain and shortness of breath. At Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute, with offices in Zephyrhills, Riverview, Plant City, Wesley Chapel and Lakeland, Florida, echocardiogram testing is available to assess the health and function of your heart valves and other structures. The practice’s skilled cardiologists use the results of your echocardiogram to create an effective treatment plan for underlying heart issues. Call the Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute office nearest you to learn more about the benefits of an echocardiogram, or book an appointment online today.

What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is a diagnostic tool to view the structures of your heart. The ultrasound technology uses sound waves that bounce off your heart to create pictures of your heart valves and how blood flows through each chamber.

Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute offers several types of echocardiograms, including:

Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)

TTE is a standard echocardiogram that uses ultrasound technology to create pictures of your heart structures. Your cardiologist may also inject a contrast dye into your vein to ensure the structures show up well on the images.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

TEE provides detailed pictures of your heart and aorta, the main artery in your body. The provider inserts a scope with an attached camera into your esophagus to take pictures of your heart from inside your body.

Stress echocardiogram

A stress echocardiogram takes pictures of your heart before and after you exercise. This test evaluates how your heart reacts to strenuous activity.

Why would I need an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram may be part of a diagnostic evaluation for cardiac-related symptoms like shortness of breath and chest pain. The test can diagnose different types of heart conditions, including:

• Enlarged heart (cardiomyopathy)
• Heart infection (endocarditis)
• Heart valve damage or disease
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Congenital heart disease

An echocardiogram can also show changes related to tumors, blood clots, and aortic aneurysms.

What happens during an echocardiogram?

During a standard echocardiogram, the Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute team places a hand-held transducer on your chest. The device delivers sound waves through your skin that bounce off your heart and create an image on an external monitor.

If you’re having a transesophageal echocardiogram, they attach several electrode patches to your chest that connect to an electrocardiograph (EKG) device. The electrodes record information about your heart’s electrical activity. Your cardiologist then guides a small transducer down into your esophagus to assess the structures of your heart.

For a stress echocardiogram, the team monitors your heart rate while you’re at rest and during activity. They take pictures of your heart before and after you exercise.

After your echocardiogram is complete, your cardiologist reviews the results and discusses what treatments you may need to address existing heart issues. You can go back to your usual activities without limitations unless your provider tells you otherwise.

Call the Florida Heart, Vein and Vascular Institute office nearest you to schedule an echocardiogram or book an appointment online today.