An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to produce an image of the heart in motion. In addition to images of the heart chambers and valves, the echocardiogram also shows the size of the heart and how big the different chambers are in relation to each other, how thick the heart muscle is, and how well the heart muscle is working. The doppler portion of the ultrasound study also shows and measures the direction and speed of flow of blood through and between the chambers of the heart.

The term "echo" refers to the way the test is performed.

A transducer placed over the heart emits waves of sound that cannot be heard but which are reflected back from the heart tissues in an echo. These echoes are then translated into visual images by the computerized video monitor. A gel is spread over the transducer to facilitate the transmission of sound waves through the skin and chest wall. Electrodes are placed on the chest to monitor the heart beat during the test. As the transducer is moved over the chest in a systematic sequence, the sound waves that bounce back are transmitted into the video monitor which creates a permanent record of the motions of your heart. You may be asked to exhale deeply and hold your breath for several seconds at different stages of the test to keep air in the lungs from interfering with the sound waves.

The types of information that your doctor can obtain from echocardiography include:

• the shape and size of the heart, the heart chambers, and valves
• how well the heart valves open and close during each contraction and relaxation of the heart chambers
• the uniformity of movement of the heart muscle during each cycle of contraction and relaxation
• the thickness of the muscular walls of the heart
• estimate the blood pressure within the lungs indirectly