Ultrasound
i. Echocardiography
An Echocardiogram is a procedure that sends ultrasound waves (like sonar) into the chest to create moving pictures of the heart. You may only think of ultrasound being used to monitor a baby’s growth, but ultrasound waves can also show the size of the heart’s chambers and valves and how well they are working. This simple, painless test often provides valuable information about damage to a heart and also helps gather information about a heart with irregular beats (arrhythmia).
ii. Transesophageal Echo
A Transesophageal Echocardiogram (also referred to as a TEE) is a diagnostic test used to view the structures of the beating heart. In this procedure, a transducer is passed through the mouth and into the esophagus, which lies behind the heart. The transducer then sends images of the heart to a monitor. TEE is commonly done in people with atrial fibrillation to see if blood clots have formed in the top chambers of the heart called the “atria” and for evaluation of diseased heart valves and other congenital abnormalities.
iii. Arterial and venous Ultrasound
Sonography is a useful way of evaluating the body’s circulatory system. Vascular ultrasound is performed to:
- help monitor the blood flow to organs and tissues throughout the body
- locate and identify blockages (stenosis) and abnormalities like blood clots, plaque or emboli and help plan for their effective treatment
- determine whether a patient is a good candidate for a procedure such as angioplasty
- to plan or evaluate the success of procedures that graft or bypass blood vessels
Doppler ultrasound images can help the physician to see and evaluate:
- blockages to blood flow (such as clots)
- narrowing of vessels (which may be caused by plaque)
- tumors and congenital malformation