Cardiovascular Surgery
Echocardiography (ECHO )

Echocardiography is an imaging method performed by using sound waves. It shows how the heart muscle and valves work. It also provides information about how wide is your heart.

Echocardiographic diagnosis method is conducted for the following reasons:

  • Assess cardiac functions in general
  • Investigate the cause of heart murmurs, which are heard through the stethoscope, heart growth, unexplained chest pains, shortness of breath or irregular heart beat
  • Measure the shape and size of cardiac chambers
  • Control thickness and movement of heart walls
  • Evaluate the structure and thickness of pericardial membrane surrounding the heart
  • Identify diseases that affect the heart muscle
  • Clearly assess Heart valve structures and movements; if the patient has an artificial valve , evaluate the functions of artificial valve.
  • Assess blood clots and tumors in the heart
  • Check surgical interventions made because of heart diseases
  • Evaluate heart function after a heart attack
  • In case of a build-up of fluid around the heart , assess quantity and type of the fluid
  • Evaluate structures and diameters of main arteries coming out of the heart
  • Further investigate any clot, mass in the heart detected by TTE or diseases associated with infection of valves, called endocarditis,
  • Control any suspected expansion and rupture in aortic vessels
  • Evaluate the success of surgeries performed to repair heart valves or close holes in the heart
  • In the case of patients who will undergo a surgery other than heart surgery, make preoperative cardiac risk assessment

ECHO methods are studied under 4 titles:

  • Standard (Transthoracic ) Echocardiography
    • In this examination, x-rays are not used. The procedure is an ultrasound technology.
    • The procedure is generally completed in 15 minutes.
    • It is a painless procedure and has no side effects.
  • (Transesophageal) Echocardiography by esophagus
    • In certain cases where transthoracic echocardiography is unsatisfactory, transesophageal echocardiography can be needed.
    • This is a similar technique to gastroscopy.
    • Takes 15-20 minutes.
  • Stress Echocardiography
    • Stress echocardiography is an application of echocardiography performed using exercise methods or drugs that speed up the heartbeat.
    • This procedure is performed by recording echocardiographic images immediately before and immediately after exercise in the case of a treadmill exercise test or at each stage of the exercise in the case of a cycling exercise test.
    • Where exercise testing can not be done, medicated stress echocardiography is performed by intravenous administration of increasing doses of drugs which will increase heart rhythm and contraction, at specified intervals.
    • Takes about 1 hour.
  • Strain and Strain Rate Echocardiography
    • It is especially applied for the evaluation of strength and contractile functions of the heart muscle.
    • It is a new method.
    • No contrast substance is used. Takes about 15–30 minutes.
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