Subsections

1. Adult color Doppler echocardiogram

2. Pediatric color Doppler echocardiogram

3. Contrast echocardiogram

 

Adult color Doppler echocardiogram

An echocardiogram is a test that uses ultrasound waves to examine the heart. Its common name is Echo.

This test can be used to determine:

I. Heart size.

II. Heart's pumping strength.

III. Heart valve problems and their impact.

IV. Fluid around the heart.

V. Blood clots or tumors inside the heart.

VI. Abnormal orifices in the different chambers of the heart.

VII. Hemodynamic and pressure calculations of the various chambers.

No special preparation is needed for this test.

During the test:

I. You will be asked to remove your clothes from the waist up, wear a gown, and lie on a stretcher.

II. Cables and electrodes (small sticky patches) are connected to your chest and shoulders to record the electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). The EKG shows the electrical activity of your heart during the test.

III. You will be asked to lie on your back or on your left side. To improve the quality of the pictures, a clear gel is applied on the chest area where the transducer (a small device as a microphone) will be placed.

IV. The cardiologist will move the transducer to obtain different views of the heart. You may be asked to change position several times.

V. This procedure takes 20-30 minutes depending on the number of views necessary.

Pediatric color Doppler echocardiogram

Echocardiography is a diagnostic ultrasound for the anatomical and functional assessment of the heart at different stages of life.

This test can be used to determine:

I. Heart size.

II. Heart's pumping strength.

III. Heart valve problems and their impact.

IV. Fluid around the heart.

V. Blood clots or tumors inside the heart.

VI. Abnormal orifices in the different chambers of the heart.

VII. Hemodynamic and pressure calculations of the various chambers.

No special preparation is needed for this test.

During the test:

I. You will be asked to remove clothing from the waist up, and wear a gown. You will be asked to lie on a stretcher.

II. Cables and electrodes (small sticky patches) are attached to your chest and shoulders to record the electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). The EKG shows the electrical activity of your heart during the test.

III. You will be asked to lie on your back or on your left side. To improve the quality of the pictures, a clear gel is placed on the chest area where the transducer (a small device as a microphone) will be placed.

IV. The cardiologist will move the transducer to obtain different views of the heart. You may be asked to change position several times.

V. This procedure takes 20-30 minutes depending on the number of views necessary.

During the test:

The study requires previous appointment.

The child must be accompanied by a parent and must arrive on time.

Showing late to your appointment may result in rescheduling.

Since the study is done in a diagnostic center in which other studies are conducted, the parent is responsible for the child's behavior during the visit.

The parent is responsible for any damage that may be caused in the facilities and should exercise care to avoid accidents.

Contrast echocardiogram

Contrast echocardiography is a useful diagnostic technique in the assessment of cardiac structure and function. As any technique, it has limitations. Sometimes the signal-noise ratio is low, and low-intensity signals are lost. There are a number of substances for echo or contrast-enhanced echocardiography, to improve the ultrasound signal and the diagnosis.

The echocardiographic contrast is any substance that introduced into the circulatory system and modifies the echogenic characteristics of the vascular structure or of the organ being under study. The echopotentiographic effect is due to the presence of microscopic particles (microscopic bubbles) that scatter energy in all directiions, and increase the intensity of the acoustic signal into the bloodstream.

Types of contrast:

There are many types of contrast that have been developed and are currently under study. From a practical standpoint we can group them as follows:

Free gas bubbles:

Initial comparisons were used. These micro bubbles have no wall, so that gas diffusion is rapid and the contrast time is very limited. Under normal conditions they cross the pulmonary filter differently. The contrast effect is produced by the injection of the substance at high speed into the bloodstream which causes micro cavitations. Saline solution and dextrose are utilized.

Form of administration:

• Intra-coronary.

• Aortic.

• Venous.

In animals, injection of contrast into the aortic root or coronary trunks defines an area of "no contrast" that identifies the area irrigated by the artery at risk.

In clinical practice contrasts are administered in a peripheral vein.

For the preparation of contrast it is important to have two three-way keys, two 10ml syringes filled with saline solution containing 8cc of solution and 2cc of air. Inject the patient with 100cc of saline solution Previously the two syringes have been shaken to obtain a gaseous mixture, this is administered at high speed.

The procedure takes about 30 minutes, is painless, free of complications and provides additional information to complete the cardiac diagnosis.