According to the Texas Heart Institute Heart Information Center, no special preparation is needed before you have an echocardiogram.

During the test, you will lie on an examination table. A technician will place small metal disks called electrodes on your chest. These electrodes have wires called leads, which hook up to an electrocardiogram machine. This machine will monitor your heart rhythm during the test.

Next, the technician will put a thick gel on your chest. The gel may feel cold, but it does not harm your skin. Then, the technician will use the transducer to send and receive the sound waves.

The transducer will be placed directly on the left side of your chest, above your heart. The technician will press firmly as he or she moves the transducer across your chest. You may be asked to breathe in or out or to briefly hold your breath during the test. But, for most of the test, you will lie still.

An echocardiogram may take up to 45 minutes to perform. You should not have any pain or discomfort during the test.

You may hear physicians discussing these procedures directly with attending medical staff

• Transthoracic Echocardiography
• Two-dimensional and Doppler (comprehensive anatomical and hemodynamic evaluation of all cardiac structures — the most common exam)
• Limited two-dimensional or limited Doppler (for specific follow up indications only)
• Echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis Echocardiography-guided endomyocardial biopsy
• Stress Echocardiography Treadmill stress echo
• Dobutamine stress echo
• Bicycle stress echo
• Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)
• Inpatient TEE (in lab, ICU’s, cath lab, emergency department)
• Outpatient TEE
• Intraoperative TEE (assess complex surgeries of the heart or aorta before and immediately after repair). We are one of a few labs offering comprehensive service in this area.
• Electrical Cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter immediately after TEE
• Catheterization Lab—guidance imaging of special procedures, including percutaneous device closure of atrial septal defects and patent foramen ovale.

A wide-range of “state of the art” products ensures our staff access to emerging technologies and well-rounded training.

• Philips iE33 (3-dimensional ultrasound) new 2005
• General Electric Vivid 7 Dimension with workstation (3-dimensional ultrasound) new 2005
• Siemens Sequoia Ultrasound Machines
• Philips HP 5500 Ultrasound Machines
• Heart Lab Digital Echocardiography PACS system, new 2005
• Digisonics off-line Analysis system
• SonoSite hand-held portable ultrasound machine
• General Electric Vivid 7’s (intraoperatinve TEE)

Additionally, we employ special techniques to enhance the quality of care our patients receive.

• IV Saline Contrast – To assess for intracardiac shunts
• IV Saline Contrast – To assess for intrapulmonic shunts
• Lower Extremity (IVC) Saline Contrast – To assess for occult Patent Foramen Ovale shunt.
• Tilt Table TEE or TTE IV Saline Contrast & Pulse Oximetry (orthdeoxia / platypnea assessment)
• IV Microsphere Echocardiography Contrast Agent – To improve endocardial border definition
• Respirometry (tamponade / constrictive physiology)
• Provocative maneuvers for dynamic obstruction (amyl nitrate inhalation, Valsalva maneuver)
• A-V Delay “Optimization” post pacemaker implantation.