HealthMedicine

Echocardiography - what is it? Indication for appointment, procedure description, indicators

Echocardiography - what is this word? After all, many people know another term - an electrocardiogram. Today we learn what echocardiography is, how it is carried out, what are its features. Also find out how to prepare for this procedure and what is its cost.

Description

Echocardiography, abbreviated EchoCG, is a method of heart examination based on ultrasound scanning of the thoracic cavity. With the help of this method, various diseases of the "engine" of the organism are diagnosed. This method of investigation allows us to estimate the overall dimensions of both the heart itself and its individual structures (ventricles, septa), the thickness of the myocardium of the ventricles, and the atria. EchoCG can also determine the mass of the heart, the ejection fraction and other parameters.

Another name for this method of diagnosis, which people hear more often is ultrasound, that is, ultrasound.

Indications for use

The procedure can be sent to the specialist in such cases:

- If the cardiologist discovers noises in the heart.

- There are changes on the ECG.

- If a person feels a breakdown in the work of the heart.

- The patient has a fever that is not a sign of ARVI, problems with the throat, nose, ears or kidneys.

- According to the results of the roentgenogram, one can see an increase in the size of the heart or a change in its shape, the location of large vessels.

Also this method of research is conducted in the following situations:

- Patients with high blood pressure.

- Those patients who have heart defects in the family.

- When people complain of pain in the left side of the chest.

- With shortness of breath, swelling of the extremities.

- With fainting.

- In the event that a person is often concerned about dizziness.

- If there is a suspicion of a swelling of the heart.

- With angina pectoris.

- After a heart attack, etc.

Study in relation to pregnant women

A safe and universal method for determining heart problems is called echocardiography. What does it mean? Only one thing - it can be conducted in relation to all categories of the population, both adults and children. This study is even prescribed for pregnant women. And it is done in order to detect the cardiac pathology of the fetus and take the necessary measures to save the baby. Echocardiography is absolutely harmless for both mother and baby.

This method of research must necessarily be carried out by pregnant women in such situations:

- If the childbirth in the family had heart defects.

- Previous pregnancy ended in miscarriage.

- If a woman has diabetes mellitus.

- During pregnancy, the expectant mother had a rubella.

- If a woman took antibiotics or antiepileptic drugs in the first or second trimester.

The difference between ECG and echocardiography

The first abbreviation stands for electrocardiography.

Echocardiography means nothing more than echocardiography. What is this procedure in and how is it different from the first? In another way it is called ultrasound of the heart. The differences are as follows:

  1. Echocardiography is done with the help of a special device - a transducer, which the expert applies to the patient's chest in the region of the heart. The drug catches ultrasonic waves passing through the walls of the "engine" of the body and reflects them back. The converter receives the returned signals, which are then processed using a computer. At the same time, the ECG is done differently: special sensors are attached to the patient's chest, which measure the electrical activity of the heart. The electrodes are connected to the machine, which then displays a special graph indicating the strength and nature of the electrical signals.
  2. With the help of Echocardiography, the doctor determines how well the heart pumps blood through the body. Also, due to this method, it is possible to determine the weakening of this function, which serves as a symptom of heart failure. In this case, ECG diagnostics can only measure the level of the signal and check if the "engine" of the organism sends stable electrical impulses.
  3. The result of the ECG is always on the chart. Echocardiography is recorded in photographs.
  4. With the help of an electrocardiogram, you can identify problems with heart rhythm, arrhythmia, tachycardia, bradycardia. And what about the ultrasound of the heart? It allows you to assess the state of the heart valves, heart function after the attack, the possible location of blood clots, the disruption of this important organ.

Echocardiogram and ECG similarities

- Both methods of research can estimate the size of the chambers of the heart. For example, an extension of the right or left atrium can be detected using these diagnostic methods.

- Also, both methods can detect anomalous location of the "engine" of the body.

- Edema of the heart muscle, inflammation of surrounding tissues can also be detected due to these methods of diagnosis.

Advantages and disadvantages of each method

ECG is an affordable variant of the study. However, he can not always show a clear picture of the problem, in contrast to the ultrasound of the heart. What will clearly show the EchoCG, so it's structural anomalies. This method of investigation ensures the accuracy of the image, this method is more reliable in determining the health of this internal organ. The advantage of an ultrasound of the heart is that the specialist can visually observe his cameras. However, this method of diagnosis has one drawback: it is performed only in private clinics, and the cost is several times more expensive than the ECG.

Boundary parameters of cardiac echocardiography

After the ultrasound of this organ has been done, the specialist who conducted the study will necessarily send a person to the cardiologist to decipher the results. To once again not to worry, do not wind yourself, below in the table you can see the boundary values:

Echocardiography: norm according to parameters Size, cm
Variation Average value
The cavity of the right ventricle at the end of diastole 0.9-2.6 1.7
The cavity of the left ventricle at the end of diastole 3.5-5.7 4.7
Diameter of aortic orifice 2.0-3.7 2.7
The left atrium cavity 1.9-4 2.9

These are the main values that the doctor pays attention to when viewing ultrasound.

Echocardiography: interpretation of the results

It is only the cardiologist who can correctly read, understand and explain the patient the results of this diagnostic method. Self-study of the basic parameters of heart parameters does not give the person full information on the assessment of his health. But in order to calmed down the patient can familiarize himself with the mean values described above. Only an experienced doctor in the field of cardiology can properly decipher the result of the apparatus, and also answer the patient's questions of interest.

It also happens that some indicators deviate from the norm and are recorded in the survey protocol under other items. This indicates that the quality of the device is not very good. If the medical facility uses modern equipment, then the echocardiography doctor will receive more accurate results, on the basis of which the patient will be diagnosed and prescribed treatment.

What diseases can be diagnosed with echocardiography?

Thanks to this method, many problems can be identified. It:

- Heart failure.

- Rheumatism.

- Ischemic disease.

- Tumor of the heart.

- Vegetosovascular dystonia.

- Myocarditis.

- Myocardial infarction.

- Arterial hypertension.

- Hypotension.

Congenital or acquired heart defects.

- Thrombosis.

- Tumor of the heart.

Methods of ultrasound

Echocardiography diagnostic methods has the following:

- Transthoracic technique.

- Transesophageal ultrasound.

The first method of diagnosis is the most common, since it has been used for a long time. Transthoracic technique for detecting cardiac problems is carried out through the thorax using a sensor that is pressed against the patient's body in the region of the heart. The patient during the procedure is on the couch in the supine position on the side or back.

Transesophageal echocardiography - what is this research method and how is it conducted? This is also a method of ultrasound diagnosis of the heart. However, it is carried out not from the surface of the chest, as with transthoracic technique, but from the esophagus. The sensor is determined precisely there, thanks to this method the doctor can get as close to the heart as possible, and also to see those of his departments that are not viewed with standard ultrasound.

The cost of the procedure

Not all state polyclinics and hospitals can boast of the fact that they can offer such a method of heart examination as echocardiography. Prices for this procedure in private clinics range from 2200-3000 rubles. Everything depends on the prestige of the hospital, the doctor's qualifications, the availability of modern equipment, the location of the medical institution that provides paid services. In Moscow, for example, echocardiography will be more expensive than in Voronezh.

If you compare the price of an ultrasound and an ECG, in the latter case a person will have to pay up to 700 rubles. Moreover, often an electrocardiogram is conducted free of charge in public hospitals.

Preparation for transesophageal examination

Echocardiography is done on an outpatient basis. A few hours before the procedure, the patient should refrain from water and food. Also, one should not drink coffee or use other products containing caffeine the day before the ultrasound examination (chocolate, strong tea). It is also necessary to stop taking medications that contain a component such as nitroglycerin. Even before the procedure, the specialist should inquire if the patient has dentures. Before Echocardiography, they must be removed.

Conduction of transesophageal ultrasound of the heart

  1. The patient lies down on the couch.
  2. A catheter is inserted into the patient's vein and general anesthesia is performed . Local anesthesia can also be used.
  3. The pharynx cavity is washed with a local anesthetic. This is to ensure that the patient is not irritated by the pharynx.
  4. The patient is connected to special equipment, which will then follow the work of the heart, as well as breathing. If a person has been given a general anesthetic, then additionally he is supplied with oxygen.
  5. The patient is turned to the left side. In his mouth put a mouthpiece.
  6. With local anesthesia , an endoscope is inserted into the patient's mouth. If general anesthesia has been made, then this device is immediately injected through the esophagus into the pharynx with further progress.
  7. The endoscope captures images on the monitor thanks to a special sensor located at its end.
  8. A specialist examines the heart from different angles.

Preparation and conduct of transthoracic ultrasound

In this case, there is no need to conduct any planned actions. The procedure is performed in this order:

1. The patient undresses to the waist, lies down on the couch.

2. On the left side of the chest, the specialist applies a special gel. It is necessary that ultrasonic waves are better transmitted.

3. Then the paramedic installs the sensor on the chest area and marks all the data.

4. After the procedure, the specialist processes all the information received and in a few minutes already gives a written opinion to the patient. On the document, a person can read about what an approximate diagnosis the doctor has placed him. But this does not mean that you can put a full stop on this. With the result of ultrasound, the patient must necessarily go to a consultation with a cardiologist.

Contraindications

In general, cardiac echocardiography is a completely harmless procedure. But due to some anatomical features of patients, there may be problems associated with insufficient penetration of ultrasound by the transesophageal method. This can happen, for example, with the deformation of the chest, the presence of pronounced hairline in men, obesity, large breast size in women.

In the following situations, it is unacceptable to do an ultrasound of the heart:

- If a person has a stomach ulcer or acute gastritis.

- The patient has a tumor of any severity.

In this case, transesophageal ultrasound of the heart is not performed. It is allowed to do only transthoracic echocardiography.

Conclusion

From the article, you realized that a synonym for the concept of echocardiography is ultrasound. Both words denote the same process. Echocardiography of the heart is an accurate research method, which allows to reveal various diseases of this organ even in the initial stages. Transthoracic ultrasound can be performed absolutely for all patients. While transesophageal echocardiography is rarely used, because in this case the chamber with an endoscope is inserted through the esophagus.

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