Echocardiography

Question 1

utilizes ultrasound to produce images of the heart and vascular structures and to provide information about the direction and velocity of blood flow within these structures

Answer 1

Echocardiography

Question 2

ultrasound test that checks the structure and function of your heart

Answer 2

Echocardiogram

Question 3

An echo can diagnose a range of conditions including: ______________ and _____ _______

Answer 3

cardiomyopathy
valve disease

Question 4

refers to sound waves with a frequency well beyond the range of human hearing

Answer 4

ultrasound

Question 5

providers often combine echo with _______ __________ and _____ _______ __________ to evaluate blood flow across your heart valves

Answer 5

Doppler ultrasound
color Doppler techniques

Question 6

Does echocardiography use radiation?

Answer 6

No

This makes an echo different from other tests like X-rays and CT scans that use small amounts of radiation

Question 7

5 basic components of an ultrasound scanner

Answer 7

1. Pulse generator
2. Transducer
3. Receiver
4. Display
5. Memory

Question 8

applies high amplitude voltage to energize the crystals

Answer 8

pulse generator

Question 9

converts electrical energy to mechanical (ultrasound) energy and vice versa

Answer 9

transducer

Question 10

detects and amplifies weak signals

Answer 10

receiver

Question 11

displays ultrasound signals in a variety of modes

Answer 11

display

Question 12

stores video display

Answer 12

memory

Question 13

Importance of echocardiography (4)

Answer 13

• Assess the overall function of the heart
• Determine the presence of many types of heart diseases
• Follow the progress of valve disease over time
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the medical or surgical treatments

Question 14

Indication of echocardiography (5)

Answer 14

• changes in heart size
• pumping strength
• damage to the heart muscle
• valve problems
• heart defects

Question 15

Risk and contradictions in echo

Answer 15

• no risks in standard transthoracic echo
• in transesophageal echo, the patient’s throat may sore for a few hours

Question 16

Examination protocol

Answer 16

In transesophageal echo, the patient will be asked not to eat for several hours beforehand

Question 17

Procedure of transthoracic echo

Answer 17

1. Technician will attach sticky patches / electrodes to the patient’s body
2. Will apply gel to the transducer that improves the conduction of sound waves
3. Will move transducer back and forth over the chest to record images of sound-wave echoes from the heart

Question 18

This echo technique is useful for measuring or viewing heart structures, such as the heart’s pumping chambers, size of heart, and thickness of the heart walls

Answer 18

M-mode echo

Question 19

It provides a single line of information at a higher frame rate than can be obtained by 2-D echo

Answer 19

M-mode echo

Question 20

This technique enhances accurate determination of linear dimensions and improves quantitation of chamber size and wall thickness

Answer 20

M-mode echo

Question 21

This echo technique is used to measure and assess the flow of blood through the heart’s chambers and valves

Answer 21

Doppler echo

Question 22

This technique can also detect abnormal blood flow within the heart

Answer 22

Doppler echo

Question 23

What is the difference between a normal echo and a Doppler echo?

Answer 23

M-mode and 2-D echo allow creation of anatomic images of heart

Doppler echo record blood flow within the cardiovascular system

Question 24

An enhanced form of Doppler echo

Answer 24

Color Doppler

Question 25

Assess blood flow based on changes in the ultrasonographic signal due to the movement of erythrocytes relative to the transducer

Answer 25

Color Doppler

Question 26

This technique is used to “see” the actual motion of the heart structures

Answer 26

2-D echo

Question 27

It appears cone-shaped on the monitor, and the real-time motion of the heart’s structures can be observed

Answer 27

2-D echo

Question 28

Captures 3-D views of the heart structures with greater detail than 2-D echo

Answer 28

3-D echo

Question 29

The most common type of echo

Answer 29

Transthoracic echo

Question 30

A device called a transducer will be placed on your chest over your heart. This type is also painless and noninvasive

Answer 30

Transthoracic echo

Question 31

This test requires that the transducer be inserted down the throat into the esophagus

Answer 31

Transesophageal echo

Question 32

It provides superior image quality, particularly for posterior cardiac structures which are nearer to the esophagus and less well visualized on the transthoracic echo

Answer 32

Transesophageal echo

Question 33

It is performed while the person exercises on a treadmill or stationary bike

Answer 33

Stress echo

Question 34

To visualize the motion of the heart’s walls and pumping action when the heart is stressed

Answer 34

Stress echo

Question 35

A form of echo performed during cardiac catheterization

Answer 35

Intravascular echo

Question 36

Uses a transducer or probe to generate sound waves and produce pictures of the insides of blood vessels. Also used to provide information about artherosclerosis

Answer 36

Intravascular echo

Question 37

Uses sound waves to check the heart of your developing baby

Answer 37

Fetal echo

Question 38

Can help find heart defects before birth

Answer 38

Fetal echo

Question 39

Who performs an echo test?

Answer 39

Cardiac sonographer