What is the difference between an echocardiogram and an ultrasound

Q: Is an echocardiogram the same as an ultrasound?

An echocardiogram, or echo, is a scan used to look at the heart and nearby blood vessels. Its a type of ultrasound scan, which means a small probe is used to send out high-frequency sound waves that create echoes when they bounce off different parts of the body.

An echocardiogram checks how your heart's chambers and valves are pumping blood through your heart. An echocardiogram uses electrodes to check your heart rhythm and ultrasound technology to see how blood moves through your heart. An echocardiogram can help your doctor diagnose heart conditions.

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Why it's done
Transthoracic echocardiogram
Transesophageal echocardiogram
Doppler echocardiogram
Stress echocardiogram
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Is an echocardiogram the same as an ultrasound?
What does an echocardiogram not show?
What 5 abnormalities can be found on the echocardiogram?
What does an ultrasound of the heart tell you?

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This common test allows your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood. Your doctor can use the images from an echocardiogram to identify heart disease.

Depending on what information your doctor needs, you may have one of several types of echocardiograms. Each type of echocardiogram involves few, if any, risks.

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Why it's done

Your doctor may suggest an echocardiogram to:

Check for problems with the valves or chambers of your heart
Check if heart problems are the cause of symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain
Detect congenital heart defects before birth (fetal echocardiogram)

The type of echocardiogram you have depends on the information your doctor needs.

Transthoracic echocardiogram

In this standard type of echocardiogram:

A technician (sonographer) spreads gel on a device (transducer).
The sonographer presses the transducer firmly against your skin, aiming an ultrasound beam through your chest to your heart.
The transducer records the sound wave echoes from your heart.
A computer converts the echoes into moving images on a monitor.

If your lungs or ribs block the view, you may need a small amount of an enhancing agent injected through an intravenous (IV) line. The enhancing agent, which is generally safe and well tolerated, will make your heart's structures show up more clearly on a monitor.

Transesophageal echocardiogram

If your doctor wants more-detailed images or it's difficult to get a clear picture of your heart with a standard echocardiogram, your doctor may recommend a transesophageal echocardiogram.

In this procedure:

Your throat will be numbed, and you'll be given medications to help you relax.
A flexible tube containing a transducer is guided down your throat and into the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach (esophagus).
The transducer records the sound wave echoes from your heart.
A computer converts the echoes into detailed moving images of your heart, which your doctor can view on a monitor.

Doppler echocardiogram

Sound waves change pitch when they bounce off blood cells moving through your heart and blood vessels. These changes (Doppler signals) can help your doctor measure the speed and direction of the blood flow in your heart.

Doppler techniques are generally used in transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms. Doppler techniques can also be used to check blood flow problems and blood pressure in the arteries of your heart — which traditional ultrasound might not detect.

The blood flow shown on the monitor is colorized to help your doctor pinpoint any problems.

Stress echocardiogram

Some heart problems — particularly those involving the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle (coronary arteries) — occur only during physical activity. Your doctor might recommend a stress echocardiogram to check for coronary artery problems. However, an echocardiogram can't provide information about any blockages in the heart's arteries.

In a stress echocardiogram:

Ultrasound images of your heart are taken before and immediately after you walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike
If you're unable to exercise, you may get an injection of a medication to make your heart pump as hard as if you were exercising

More Information

Acute coronary syndrome
Adult Still's disease
Angina
Aortic aneurysm
Aortic valve regurgitation
Aortic valve stenosis
ARDS
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial flutter
Atrial septal defect (ASD)
Atrioventricular canal defect
Broken heart syndrome
Brucellosis
Bundle branch block
Cardiogenic shock
Cardiomyopathy
Coarctation of the aorta
Congenital heart defects in children
Congenital heart disease in adults
Conjoined twins
Coronary artery disease
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Dressler syndrome
Ebstein anomaly
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Eisenmenger syndrome
Enlarged heart
Heart arrhythmia
Heart attack
Heart disease
High blood pressure in children
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Interstitial lung disease
Kawasaki disease
Left ventricular hypertrophy
Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Lupus
Marfan syndrome
Mitral valve disease
Mitral valve prolapse
Mitral valve regurgitation
Mitral valve stenosis
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)
Myocardial ischemia
Myocarditis
Noonan syndrome
Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension)
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Patent foramen ovale
Pectus excavatum
Pericardial effusion
Pericarditis
Premature birth
Pulmonary atresia
Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum
Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect
Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary valve stenosis
Rheumatic fever
Stroke
Sudden cardiac arrest
Tetralogy of Fallot
Thoracic aortic aneurysm
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Transposition of the great arteries
Tricuspid atresia
Tricuspid valve regurgitation
Tuberous sclerosis
Vasovagal syncope
Ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
Ventricular tachycardia

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Is an echocardiogram the same as an ultrasound?

An echocardiogram, or "echo", is a scan used to look at the heart and nearby blood vessels. It's a type of ultrasound scan, which means a small probe is used to send out high-frequency sound waves that create echoes when they bounce off different parts of the body.

What does an echocardiogram not show?

Your doctor might recommend a stress echocardiogram to check for coronary artery problems. However, an echocardiogram can't provide information about any blockages in the heart's arteries.

What 5 abnormalities can be found on the echocardiogram?

The echocardiogram can help detect:.

Abnormal heart valves..

Congenital heart disease (abnormalities present at birth).

Damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack..

Heart murmurs..

Inflammation ( pericarditis ) or fluid in the sac around the heart (pericardial effusion).

What does an ultrasound of the heart tell you?

Heart Ultrasound can be very helpful to: Determine the presence of abnormalities in the structure of the heart. Measure the size and thickness of the heart and its chambers. Assess the motion of the chamber walls and the extent of damage to the heart muscle after a heart attack.