Echocardiogram: Why It Is Done

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Why It Is Done

Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)

This test is done to:

• Look for the cause of abnormal heart sounds (murmurs or clicks), an enlarged heart, unexplained chest pains, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeats.
• Check the thickness and movement of the heart wall.
• Look at the heart valves and check how well they work.
• See how well an artificial heart valve is working.
• Measure the size and shape of the heart's chambers.
• Check the ability of your heart chambers to pump blood (cardiac performance). During an echocardiogram, your doctor can calculate how much blood your heart is pumping during each heartbeat (ejection fraction). You might have a low ejection fraction if you have heart failure.
• Detect a disease that affects the heart muscle and the way it pumps, such as cardiomyopathy.
• Look for blood clots and tumors inside the heart.

A transthoracic echocardiogram may also be used to:

• Look for congenital heart defects or to check the effectiveness of previous surgery to repair a congenital heart defect.
• Check how well your heart works after a heart attack.
• Identify the specific cause of heart failure.
• Look for a collection of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion) or a thickening of the lining (pericardium) around the heart.

Stress echocardiogram

A stress echo may be done to:

• Identify and monitor reduced blood flow to heart muscle (ischemia). This is usually more apparent after some form of stress, such as exercise or medicine.

Doppler echocardiogram

A Doppler echocardiogram can be done during a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), or a stress echocardiogram to:

• Measure the speed at which blood travels through the heart.
• Measure the blood pressure and speed of blood flow through the heart valves.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) may be done to:

• Monitor heart function during surgery.
• Check how well an artificial heart valve works.
• Look for masses or blood clots in the upper left chamber (left atrium) of the heart.
• Identify abnormal blood flow between the chambers of the heart (cardiac shunt).
• Help find out if you have endocarditis.
• Guide procedures done during cardiac catheterization.
• Help find out if you have a tear in the aorta (aortic dissection).

Last updated:	December 24, 2007
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Michele Cronen