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What is echocardiography? Who should undergo the ECHO CG procedure? Preparation for the standard echocardiography procedure

One of the modern methods of examining the condition of the heart muscle and its contractile activity is an echocardiographic examination of the heart, which is also called cardiac ultrasound or cardiac echocardiography. This term contains three roots: “echo”, understandable without translation, “cardio” - heart and “grapho” - to describe, depict. It is clear that this research is at the service of cardiologists.

It is with the help of ultrasound that you can visualize the working heart and blood vessels. The method is based on the use of ultrasound - sound vibrations of such a high frequency that they are completely undetectable by the human ear. By making an echocardiogram of the heart, you can examine the following parameters in real time:

The work of the myocardium.
The thickness of the heart walls.
The sizes of the cavities of the heart and the pressure in them.
Condition of all four chambers and heart valves.
The speed of blood flow inside the heart.

Indications for cardiac echocardiography

Doctors will definitely refer the patient to undergo cardiac echocardiography if the examination reveals the following symptoms:

Pain in the area of the heart or chest.
Heart murmurs and arrhythmias detected during auscultation.
Chronic ischemia or acute myocardial infarction.
Signs indicating heart failure (swelling of the legs or enlarged liver).
Shortness of breath, fatigue, lack of air, frequent paleness of the skin, cyanosis around the ears, lips, arms or legs.

An ultrasound of the heart is also performed after heart surgery and chest trauma. The group of patients referred for cardiac echocardiography may also include people complaining of frequent headaches that have become chronic. For them, such a study is necessary because headaches can occur due to the movement of pieces of blood clots (microemboli) from the right side of the heart to the left due to a septal defect.

The same study is used in the presence of artificial valves in the heart, as well as for diagnosing congenital or acquired heart defects. Heart ultrasound is performed in patients with atherosclerosis, hypertension, and oncology, when a course of antibiotics is prescribed. Even poor newborn weight gain may benefit from this test.

Echocardiography can reveal hidden abnormalities in the heart in people actively involved in sports, regardless of the load on this organ, be it diving, marathon running, parachuting or weightlifting. Correct diagnosis will allow timely implementation of the necessary prevention of complications or prescribing treatment for cardiovascular diseases.

Many who were referred for this study are probably interested in cardiac echocardiography: how it is done, what it is, what the preparation and limitations are. We will give answers to all these questions.

Preparation for the procedure is simple. The man undresses to the waist and lies on his left side on the couch. In this position, the left side of the chest is closest to the apex of the heart, so this allows for the clearest image of this organ and its four chambers. Then the area of the chest where the sensors will be attached is lubricated with gel. The difference in their positions allows you to see the parts of the heart more clearly, as well as measure their sizes and record indicators. The sensors connected to the device do not cause any discomfort, much less pain. The sensors themselves send ultrasound into the body, which, when passing through tissue, is modified, reflected and returned to the sensors. The sound is then converted into electrical signals that are transmitted to an echocardiograph. Changes in the state of internal organs also change the ultrasonic wave. In this way, ultrasound differs from an ECG, since the latter does not record the structure, but only the activity of the heart.

The processed signals display a clear picture on the screen. This is the most common type of ultrasound examination, called "transthoracic echocardiography" ("thorax" in Latin - chest), due to the fact that the study is carried out through the surface of the human body. In this case, the doctor sits to the left or right of the patient and, looking at the image on the monitor, controls the device settings.

In the presence of chronic diseases, this procedure is recommended to be performed annually.

If an ultrasound is performed on pregnant women at 11-13 weeks, it is possible to determine the rhythm of the fetus, the presence of chambers and the main indicators of cardiac activity.

Transesophageal echocardiography

Sometimes certain factors prevent conventional transthoracic echocardiography. Obstacles can be muscles, ribs, excess fat deposits under the skin, lungs and artificial valves, which become an acoustic barrier to the ultrasound. In such cases, a transesophageal echocardiographic study or “transesophageal echocardiography” (Latin “oesophagus” - esophagus) is performed. This study can also be three-chamber. But here the sensor has to be inserted through the esophagus adjacent to the left atrium, due to which the small structures of the heart are better visible.

If the patient has diseases of the esophagus such as bleeding, esophageal varicose veins, inflammatory processes, then transesophageal echocardiography is contraindicated for him.

With transesophageal echocardiography, unlike transthoracic echocardiography, it is necessary to abstain from eating 4-6 hours before the study. The sensor that penetrates the esophagus is lubricated with ultrasound gel, and it is advisable to limit the time it stays there to 12 minutes.

Stress EchoCG

Many people also ask the question: echocardiography stress – what is it? Let's try to answer this question.

It is important to obtain research results when the subject’s heart is working under increased load, for which the patient is either dosed with physical activity at the time of measurement, or his heart is forced to beat faster with the help of pharmacological drugs. In this way, it is possible to study and compare the changes undergone by the myocardium during stress tests. If ischemia is not observed, this indicates a lower risk of cardiovascular problems. Since such a procedure may lead to biased assessments, special echo programs are used that simultaneously display several images on the monitor that correspond to different examination conditions. When the screen contains demonstrations of cardiac activity at rest and at maximum load, it is easier to compare them.

Stress echocardiography allows you to identify hidden abnormalities in the heart that are not visible at rest.

The entire procedure usually takes approximately 45 minutes, and the level of stress for each patient is selected individually, depending on the state of health and age. Preparatory steps for stress echocardiography are not too burdensome:

You need to wear loose clothing that does not restrict movement.
Three hours before the procedure, stop consuming significant amounts of food and cancel all physical activity.
A couple of hours before the examination, you can have a small snack and drink water.

Types of echocardiography of the heart

But echocardiography differs not only in the way it is carried out, but also has three varieties:

Echocardiography in moving M-mode

This research method differs in that the sensor generates a narrowly directed beam of waves. At the same time, a real picture of the heart appears on the screen, reminiscent of a top view. The direction of the ultrasound can be changed and sequentially examined the aorta, which emerges from the left ventricle and supplies all organs with oxygenated blood, as well as the atrium and ventricles. Since this procedure is absolutely safe, it can be used to assess the functioning of the heart muscle not only in adults, but also in newborns.

Two-dimensional echocardiography

It is able to give doctors a two-dimensional picture. When it is carried out, ultrasound with a frequency of 30 Hz is deployed in a sector of 90 degrees, and so that the scanning plane is perpendicular to the four-chamber position. By changing the position of the sensor, you can analyze the movements of the parts of the heart, which are displayed on the screen in the form of a high-quality picture.

EchoCG with Doppler analysis

This study makes it possible to determine the turbulence of blood flow and its speed. This information is valuable because it can reveal defects in left ventricular filling. Echo kg with Doppler analysis is based on the Doppler effect, when the change in the speed of movement of an object is measured depending on the frequency of the reflected signal. When red blood cells move at different speeds, ultrasound is reflected from them differently, which leads to the appearance of a Doppler shift. Often it is at a frequency that a person can hear, then it is reproduced by the device as an audible sound.

Decoding EchoCG

After the echocardiographic examination of the heart is completed, interpretation of the results should continue. Only a cardiologist can make an accurate and comprehensive analysis of it, but if the decoding seems simple to a person who has undergone an echocardiographic examination of the heart, then he will only be able to get a general picture. Depending on the condition and age of the patient, as well as the purpose of the examination, it may give slightly different results.

Any conclusion that appears after an ultrasound of the heart contains a number of mandatory parameters that reflect the functions and structure of the heart chambers: the parameters of both ventricles and atria, the interventricular septum, the condition of the heart valves and the pericardium - the dense and thin heart sac surrounding the myocardium - are described. According to the reference data, normal values are determined by echocardiography of the heart.

Ventricular parameters

Data on the functioning of the ventricles and interventricular septum during normal heart function set normal parameters for the cardiac echocardiography procedure.

For the left ventricle (LV) there are the following main indicators:

The weight of the LV myocardium, which in women is 95-141 g, and in men – 135-182 g.
The LV myocardial mass index is 71-80 g/m2 in women and 71-94 g/m2 in men.
EDV (LV volume at rest) is 59-136 ml in women and 65-193 ml in men.
The normal LVSD (LV size at rest) is 4.6-5.7 cm, and the LVSD (LV size during maximum contraction) is 3.1-4.3 cm.
The thickness of the wall of the working heart in the period between contractions is 1.1 cm. With an increase in the load on the heart, an increase in this indicator indicates hypertrophy, that is, an increase in the thickness of the ventricular wall (when this parameter exceeds 1.6 cm, then they speak of significant hypertrophy).
The echocardiogram norm for ejection fraction (EF - an indicator reflecting the volume of blood ejected with each contraction of the heart) is at least 55-60%. If EF does not reach this level, then this may raise suspicion of heart failure. This indicates low efficiency of blood pumping and the presence of stagnation.
Stroke volume is a representation of EF in volume units, and normally it is 60-100 ml.

For the right ventricle, normal values include a wall thickness of 3 mm, a size index of 0.75–1.25 cm/m2, and a resting size of 0.75–1.1 cm.

Norms for the pericardium and valves

It seems simpler to decipher data based on the results of studies of heart valves. Deviations from the norm here mean two probable developments of the process: failure or stenosis. Stenosis is indicated by a decrease in the diameter of the valve lumen, leading to difficulty pumping blood. Insufficiency is caused by another process: the valve flaps, closing, prevent the counterflow of blood, but if for one reason or another they do not provide the necessary tightness of the valve, then the blood pumped into the adjacent chamber partially returns back, as a result of which the work of the heart turns out to be less efficient.

Pericarditis is one of the most common pathologies of the pericardium. Fluid may accumulate between the pericardium and myocardium or adhesions may form, making it difficult for the heart to function. Normally, there should be 10-30 ml of fluid, and if there is more than 500 ml, then excess pressure on the heart complicates its work.

Cost of cardiac echocardiography

The estimated cost for echocardiography is in a fairly wide range - 1400-4000 rubles. At the same time, the price for echocardiography depends on the qualifications and reputation of the specialists conducting the study, as well as the level and location of the medical institution. After all, deciphering the information received is available only to qualified specialists, who, based on it, can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment. Trying to figure everything out on your own will almost certainly lead to erroneous conclusions and incorrectly chosen treatment tactics.

Everyone has had to deal with an ECHO examination. Most often they do an ECHO-kg of the heart, that is, a cardiogram familiar to everyone. But with the help of this type of diagnosis, you can examine not only the heart, but also.

This is an inexpensive and safe method for detecting various heart and brain diseases. During ECHO, an ultrasound signal is used, which painlessly penetrates tissue without causing any harm.

There are two common types of ECHO: echoencephalography and echocardiography. In the first case, , in the second, is studied.

These methods have remained the most popular for a long time, even despite and. ECHO examination is a more accessible and inexpensive method that allows you to determine the path for further examination.

During an ECHO examination, the doctor receives information about the functioning of the heart, blood vessels, and cerebral hemispheres, without any intervention in the body. These procedures are non-invasive and do not require special preparation.

Results can be obtained within 10-15 minutes after the procedure itself.

ECHO-EG is more often prescribed by a neurologist, and ECG by a therapist. Procedures are prescribed both for preventive purposes and after certain patient complaints or suspicions of heart disease, damage and hemorrhage in the brain.

Indications for ECHO examination:

Chest pain and shortness of breath. Painful sensations in the chest and frequent shortness of breath are signs of cardiac dysfunction. The doctor will definitely prescribe an ECG to evaluate the functioning of the cardiovascular system and prescribe further examination.
Heart murmurs. If the patient complains about the work of the heart, the doctor will listen to the chest. Heart murmurs are a mandatory indication for an ECG.
Increased. If you have persistently high blood pressure, feel unwell, or faint, an ECG is also prescribed.
There was a history of a heart attack. Those who have suffered a myocardial infarction are recommended to undergo regular ECGs for preventive purposes.
Head injuries and bruises. If there was a head injury as a result of an accident, fall, or playing sports, it is recommended to undergo echoencephalography to determine damage to brain tissue.
Signs of impaired brain activity. The patient should consult a doctor and undergo an ECHO-EG if he experiences frequent causeless dizziness, nausea, memory and coordination problems, and impaired attention.
Fainting. Fainting can be caused by both the heart and the brain. You need to see a doctor and fully describe your condition. Fainting is often accompanied by shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air.

Preparation and procedure

The ECHO examination procedure does not require any preparation. There is no need to change your daily routine or diet, but in the case of an ECG, it is recommended to refrain from heavy physical activity and avoid stress.

In some cases, it is carried out through the esophagus, for example, if there is a suspicion that the vessels and tissues of the heart are affected by infection, if a more detailed description of the functionality of the heart is required. In this case, preparation is required. The procedure is carried out on an empty stomach; it is not recommended to even drink 4 hours before the examination. Before the procedure, you need to remove your dentures.

There is also a type of ECG called stress ECG, that is, the patient does not lie down during the procedure, but is given loads (a regular treadmill) to identify hidden heart pathologies that are not visible at rest.

Time: 45 minutes.
Introduction of contrast: is not executed.
Preparation for the examination: not required.
Presence of contraindications: No.
Restrictions: inflammatory diseases of the skin of the chest.
Cost of the study: 3 400

Cardiac ultrasound / Echocardiography (ECHOCG) is an ultrasound examination of the heart. Non-invasive, that is, a technique that does not damage tissues and organs, allows us to identify a wide range of changes in the functioning of the heart that do not manifest themselves in the form of painful sensations and are not detected during an ECG.

The main purpose of ultrasound diagnostics is to assess the functioning of the heart. Using Echo-CG, the volume, size of the organ cavities, the thickness of its walls are determined, and structural changes in the valves and other parts of the heart are identified.

Why is Echo-CG performed?

The main objectives of the examination are always to assess the mechanical functioning of the heart and its morphological characteristics.

With the help of cardiac ECHO it became possible:

receive information about the size of the heart, the volume of its cavities;
determine the condition of the organ membranes (pericardium);
record information about the thickness of the walls of the heart;
detect cicatricial changes in the myocardium;
study the contractile function of the myocardium, that is, the ability to contract the ventricular muscles;
analyze the operation and condition of the organ’s valves;
assess intracardiac blood flow, determine the presence of pathological blood flow, measure blood pressure in the heart chambers;
assess the condition of the largest vessels of the organ.

Using echocardiography, doctors identify a whole range of heart diseases and pathological conditions, including:

ischemic disease;
myocardial pericarditis, that is, an inflammatory process;
aneurysms of any degree;
hypertrophy and dilatation of the heart chambers;
damage to the blood vessels of the organ;
heart valve damage;
the presence of intracardiac blood clots, heart tumors;
identifying the level of pressure in the pulmonary artery.

Today, Echo-CG (ultrasound of the heart) is the only method for informative and accurate diagnosis of acquired or congenital heart defects.

The examination is used not only in diagnosing functional organ disorders. It is also indispensable in preventive cardiology. Using this procedure, you can identify even the slightest deviations in the functioning of the heart, prevent a wide range of pathologies and prevent their further development.

Using this procedure, you can identify even the slightest deviations in the functioning of the heart, prevent a wide range of pathologies and prevent their further development.

Advantages of cardiac ultrasound (cardiac echocardiography) at SM-Clinic

Heart ultrasound in Moscow at SM-Clinic is performed using the latest digital devices - expert-level echocardiographs from well-known manufacturers of medical equipment. Modern devices allow you to perform examinations at high speed and obtain impeccable data processing quality. That is why the study provides highly accurate results. Echocardiography at the SM-Clinic is performed by diagnosticians of the highest qualification category, who have been trained in ultrasound diagnostics in the cardiological field and have certificates confirming this specialization. Our specialists have extensive practical experience in conducting functional examinations.

Features of ultrasound examination of the heart at SM-Clinic:

echocardiographic devices used for research allow obtaining images in four mutually perpendicular planes, which guarantees maximum diagnostic accuracy;
using Doppler echocardiography, the speed and direction of blood flow in the heart valves are determined, and the dynamics of changes in these parameters are monitored;
the study is absolutely safe for the patient, there is no effect on the body;
Heart echo has a price that is affordable for most of the clinic’s patients.

Indications for echocardiography

Echocardiography is a mandatory annual test for people who have been diagnosed with or suspected of having a heart defect, as well as other pathologies of the cardiovascular system. Cardiac echocardiography is also prescribed for people who play sports professionally and for patients who have constant physical activity.

Echocardiography is mandatory after cardiac surgery or, if necessary, during preparation for surgery.

dyspnea;
general weakness;
sudden pain, trembling in the chest;
swelling of the ankles;
frequent nausea and vomiting.

Mandatory indications for echocardiography include the following:

suspicion of dilatation of the thoracic aorta (aneurysm);
suspicions of the presence of tumors in the heart area;
high blood pressure;
previous myocardial infarction;
any changes that were detected during the ECG.

Contraindications to echocardiography

There are no absolute contraindications for cardiac ultrasound. Three hours before the procedure, it is recommended to limit your food intake. Otherwise, due to the high position of the aperture, the received information may be distorted.

ECG and EchoCG: what are the differences

There are four main differences between the procedures:

EchoCG is performed using a transducer that is applied in the area of the heart to the patient's chest. The transducer picks up the ultrasound waves that pass through the walls of the heart and then reflects them and receives the returned signals. They are processed by a computer. An ECG is performed according to a different principle: special sensors are attached to the patient’s chest. They measure the activity of the heart. Sensors (electrodes) are connected to a special device, which displays a graph indicating the nature and strength of the received electrical signals.

Ultrasound examination of the heart determines how well the organ pumps blood. With the help of such diagnostics it is also possible to identify violations of this function, which indicate heart failure. Electrocardiography, in turn, only measures the signal level and checks whether the heart is sending stable impulses.

The ECG result is presented on a graph, and the EchoCG is presented in the form of photographs.
An electrocardiogram can detect arrhythmia, tachycardia, abnormal heart rhythm, and bradycardia. Echocardiography evaluates the state of heart function after attacks, heart valves, possible localization of blood clots and other abnormalities in the functioning of the organ.

Types of EchoCG

The examination is almost always carried out through the chest. This method is called transthoracic. Transthoracic echocardiography, in turn, is divided into two-dimensional and one-dimensional.

With one-dimensional diagnostics, information is displayed in the form of a graph on a computer monitor. With the help of such a study, you can obtain information about the size of the atrium and ventricles, and evaluate their performance.

With a two-dimensional examination, information is provided in the form of an image of the organ. Two-dimensional echocardiography makes it possible to obtain an accurate picture of the heart’s functioning, determine its size, wall thickness, and chamber volume.

There is also Doppler echocardiography - a study that checks how well the blood supply to the organ occurs. For example, during the procedure, the doctor observes the movement of blood in the vessels and parts of the heart. Normally, blood flow should move in one direction, but if the valves are malfunctioning, the blood may flow in the opposite direction.

Doppler examination is usually prescribed in combination with one-dimensional or two-dimensional ultrasound examination.

Preparing for the examination

No additional preparation is required before performing an ultrasound examination of the heart. The patient only needs to come for examination at the time prescribed by the specialists. Echocardiography is performed in the functional diagnostics department of the SM-Clinic.

How is echocardiography performed?

Before the procedure, the patient undresses to the waist. After this, the diagnostician applies a special acoustic gel to the chest area and places the patient on the couch in a reclining position on the left side. Next, the specialist installs the echocardiograph sensors in several positions. This position is most comfortable for the patient. In addition, it is necessary for accurate diagnosis, since the heart, which is located at the anterolateral chest wall, is in this place least covered by lung tissue.

When a person lies on his left side, the acoustic window expands, so ultrasonic sensors pick up any vibrations and noise of the organ structures. The echocardiograph does its job within 15 minutes. It processes and synchronizes data received from sensors via an electrocardiographic channel. At this time, the patient can relax, as the procedure is painless and does not cause discomfort.

Results of the diagnostic procedure

After completion of the manipulation, the SM-Clinic diagnostician analyzes the results. It determines the thickness of the heart septa, the size and condition of the heart, its topographic position within the anatomical structure. The specialist also evaluates the functioning of the heart valves and other functional structures, and the condition of the soft tissues. Based on the results obtained, the doctor will identify possible pathologies.

After an ultrasound examination of the heart at SM-Clinic, the patient receives:

echocardiogram - visualization of soft x-ray negative tissues on photographic paper or an ultrasound image of the heart;
conclusion of a diagnostician.

Also, the EchoCG protocol must indicate the norms for people who correspond to a certain gender and age group. When writing a conclusion, these standards are taken into account and correlated with the results obtained.

Diagnostics at SM-Clinic are carried out by qualified specialists with impressive practical experience. The availability of modern equipment, as well as highly qualified diagnosticians, guarantees the most accurate examination results.

You can get an ECHO of the heart in Moscow inexpensively here at SM-Clinic. We perform tests at the best price and quickly provide diagnostic results to patients.

You can find out all the details you are interested in, clarify the cost of cardiac ultrasound and other information, and also sign up for an examination from the operators of the SM-Clinic Contact Center.

To assess the main characteristics of heart activity in medical practice, a method such as echocardiography (EchoCG) is used. Ultrasound of the heart, which is another name for the diagnostic technique in question, is based on scanning the chest area using special high-frequency ultrasound waves. This helps to assess the condition of the organ, identify deviations in its functioning, and select the necessary treatment.

Description of the method

Many patients who have been referred for electrocardiography are interested in what it is and what the essence of the method is. Echo CG is performed in a hospital setting or at home using special equipment. For this, an ultrasound-emitting device, a special sensor and a transducer are used that transmits an image of the area under study to the screen.

Passing through the heart, ultrasound waves are absorbed and reflected by its tissues. Thanks to this, the device displays an image on the screen, from which a specialist can make a conclusion about the main parameters of the organ’s functioning.

Cardiac echocardiography is considered one of the most informative and health-safe methods for identifying pathologies.

Indications for use

Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart) is used to diagnose various conditions in a patient. The following symptoms in a person may serve as a reason for the procedure:

heart murmurs, rhythm disturbances;
signs indicating the development of heart failure, for example, swelling of the extremities, pain in the liver;
acute or chronic course of myocardial infarction;
chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, cyanosis of the skin;
frequent colds or fever without signs of acute respiratory viral infection;
predisposition to cardiovascular diseases;
fainting, angina attacks.

In addition, indications include previous rheumatism, frequent surges in blood pressure, conditions accompanied by pain and numbness in the left arm, shoulder blade, and forearm. The method is used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for various heart pathologies before upcoming surgery. For the purpose of prevention, it is recommended to do an ultrasound for persons whose work activities involve frequent emotional or physical stress.

Use among pregnant women

During pregnancy, women are susceptible to many diseases. Due to changes occurring in the body, the load on the heart also increases.

Echocardiography is often performed on pregnant women

Indications for echocardiography:

diabetes mellitus;
hereditary predisposition to heart disease;
if the patient fell ill with rubella while carrying a baby, or a high concentration of bodies for this disease was detected in the plasma;
if in the first trimester the woman took any strong medications;
in the presence of miscarriages in the medical history.

Ultrasounds are often performed on an unborn baby in the womb. The procedure is performed to detect heart defects in the fetus at an early stage and is performed at 18–22 weeks.

Are there any contraindications?

How does an ECG differ from an EchoCG?

Patients often wonder what is the difference between an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram? Both methods help diagnose cardiovascular pathologies, but are carried out according to different principles.

An ECG is a method during which special sensors are attached to a person’s chest to record the electrical impulses of the heart. The sensors convert the signals into a complex curve, from which the specialist evaluates the main indicators of the functioning of the organ.

EchoCG differs in that the examination uses high-frequency ultrasound waves, which penetrate into the tissues of the organ and are reflected by it. This makes it possible to see the picture on the monitor in real time.
An electrocardiogram provides information about the electrical conductivity of the heart, calculates the heart rhythm and its electrical axis.

An echocardiogram determines the direction and speed of blood flow, helps to see the condition of the arteries and valves, the thickness of the myocardium and the size of the ventricles.

Important! ECG and EchoCG are widely applicable diagnostic techniques that are often used in combination with each other.

What else do you need to know?

An ultrasound can be done both in a public hospital and in a private clinic. The cost of the procedure should be checked in your city. If you notice heart complaints, it is recommended not to delay and consult a doctor. Only early diagnosis of diseases and their competent treatment will help prevent consequences dangerous to life and health.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system, despite the development of new diagnostic and treatment methods, continue to lead among the causes of mortality. One of the informative and safe methods of examining the heart is ultrasound. Let's look at what a heart echo shows and when it needs to be done.

What is cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography) and what is its purpose?

Ultrasound diagnostics is based on capturing the reflection of ultrasonic waves from body tissues, which is why examination of the heart is called echocardiography. Using ultrasound, the doctor receives on the monitor a layer-by-layer image of the organ in different projections in real time. He can evaluate:

Detection of changes in the structure and functioning of the heart on ultrasound helps to diagnose the disease and begin timely treatment.

The peculiarity of echocardiography is its non-invasiveness, speed of testing, high information content and safety. The examination takes only 30-40 minutes, but can provide information about congenital and acquired pathologies of the heart, large vessels (aorta, pulmonary trunk, vena cava), and the development of complications in diseases of other organs.

complaints of pain, discomfort in the heart area, trembling, palpitations, angina pectoris, ischemic heart disease, hypertension;
the appearance of general complaints of poor health, fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath with normal exertion;
detection during examination of edema of the extremities, cyanosis, high blood pressure, heart murmur, expansion of the boundaries during percussion, thrombosis of peripheral veins;
violations of the organ's functioning detected by instrumental research methods, for example, ECG;
autoimmune, infectious diseases that can cause complications from the cardiovascular system (rheumatism, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus);
diseases of the kidneys, liver, respiratory organs in the stage of decompensation, etc.

Also, the Echo-CG method is actively used for preventive examinations and monitoring:

Echo-CG is also necessary when examining older patients.

Types of Echo-CG of the heart

There are several types of echocardiograms that are used to study the heart:

Standard. The heart chambers and valves are examined, various indicators are measured and compared with average values. Based on the identified changes, a conclusion is written.
Doppler echocardiography. With it, the standard examination is supplemented with the study of blood flow in the chambers and ostia of the coronary arteries. The speed, direction of blood flow, valve dysfunction, and reverse flow (regurgitation) are assessed.
Stress echocardiography. A standard study is carried out and then repeated after physical activity (exercise bike, treadmill). Changes in work at rest and stress are studied, for example, with angina pectoris.
Contrast Echo-CG. A contrast agent injected into a vein helps to better visualize the inner surface of the walls.
Transesophageal. Minimally invasive examination using endoscopic equipment. An ultrasound probe is inserted into the esophagus, closest to the heart. Therefore, even small changes that are not visible on standard echocardiography can be studied.

Also distinguished is fetal echocardiography, carried out to identify defects and developmental anomalies.

Interpretation of echocardiography results

All obtained and calculated indicators are recorded in the conclusion.

When interpreting cardiac echocardiography in adults, the data obtained are compared with average values. For this, each doctor has special tables that indicate the norms of cardiac echocardiography, taking into account the patient’s age, gender and other characteristics.

Normal sizes of heart structures in adults and children

The tables show the average size of a healthy heart in adults and children, so it is impossible to clearly interpret what is normal. The child’s heart changes significantly already in the first days of life, due to the opening of the lungs and an increase in the load on the right side.

In adults, the heart grows up to 35–40 years of age, and its size may differ from the norm in people involved in sports or those who, by their nature and nature, lead a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, it is important for the doctor to examine individual structural features when examining.

What pathologies does the study reveal in adults and children?

An echo of the heart in an adult can reveal structural changes, which indicates the presence of the following diseases:

Also, a cardiac echo shows some features, for example, additional chords (LVDC, DCP), which is not always dangerous for the patient.

Useful video

In this video, the doctor talks about the possibilities of echocardiographic examination.

Dangerous diagnoses when additional research and treatment are required

Can a specialist determine how dangerous the patient’s condition is based on what the ultrasound shows? There are a number of signs that indicate serious illness.

These include:

hypertrophy of the pancreas, increased pressure in it, which indicates pulmonary hypertension;
signs of patent ductus arteriosus (Botallov's) such as hypertrophy of the right sections;
wall hypertrophy and an increase in diastolic volumes of the right and left ventricles (RV, LV), which indicates a ventricular septal defect, can also occur with the atria;
pathological changes in the mitral valve, with stenosis - thickening of the valves, with prolapse - hypertrophy and enlargement of the left parts;
impaired myocardial contractility during myocarditis, and if the contractions are weak only in one area, then this is a sign of previous ischemia;
changes in the shape of valves in infective endocarditis;
effusion in the pleural cavity, etc.

With such indicators, additional research and medical care are needed.

Features of Echo-CG of the heart and interpretation of results during pregnancy

During pregnancy, echocardiography can be performed not only on the expectant mother, but also on the fetus. The fetus has an Echo CG to determine how normally the heart is developing and to identify developmental defects. And it is prescribed to pregnant women both for previously identified diseases of the cardiovascular system and when symptoms appear that the heart cannot cope with the increased load. Depending on what the cardiac echocardiography shows, the issue of termination, further management of pregnancy and childbirth, and indications for early delivery by cesarean section are decided.

Ultrasound of the heart is an informative way to detect cardiovascular diseases, so doctors recommend, regardless of the presence of complaints and the patient’s well-being, that all people over 40 years of age undergo echocardiography at least once every 2 years.