Echocardiography (echo)
Ultrasound imaging of the heart
Echocardiography is imaging of the heart using ultrasound waves. It provides information about the size of the heart chambers, how the heart muscle contracts, the movement of the valves and blood flow within the heart.
It may be requested by the doctor for complaints such as shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting; when a murmur is heard on examination; and for the follow-up of known heart disease or some blood pressure and valve conditions. It does not need to be done routinely for everyone before sport or exercise; it can be used if the history, examination, ECG or risk assessment calls for further investigation.
Standard transthoracic echocardiography does not involve ionising radiation and is a non-invasive test. Gel is applied to the chest and the ultrasound probe is moved over different points to obtain images. How long it takes depends on the scope of the assessment; most tests do not require any special preparation or fasting.
Echocardiography findings are not interpreted on their own, but together with the person's complaints, their examination and, when needed, an ECG or other tests.