Echocardiography
An echocardiogram uses ultrasound techniques to image two-dimensional slices of the heart. It produces accurate assessment of the velocity of blood and cardiac tissue at any arbitrary point using pulsed or continuous wave Doppler ultrasound. It also can be used with Doppler ultrasound to make flow-related measurements more accurate.
Preparing for the echocardiogram with or without Doppler:
- Patients are allowed to eat or drink until the time of the exam
- Take all prescribed medications
- Bring in a list of current medications
- The test will take about an hour