What is echocardiography?
Echocardiography is ultrasound examination of the heart. The survey provides information about the heart's structure and function. That is, the heart's position, size, movement of the flaps and ventricular walls, and the speed at which the blood flows through different parts of the heart. Various ultrasound methods used for imaging the heart. Especially to be mentioned Doppler technique: This is a method to determine blood flow, ie how fast blood flows at specified locations. Furthermore, color techniques and counter-tin injections enhance the production of images. The methods are still under development.
A normal echocardiogram shows normal location and size of the heart and normal motion of the heart valves and the ventricle walls.
What is ultrasound?
Ultrasound is sound waves into the body of a probes. The sound waves have such a high frequency that they are not audible to the human ear. When sound waves hit the body tissue occurs an echo. The echo allows the sound waves return to the probes, which captures these tones. After processing in a computer, the received audio signals vivid black and white images on a screen. By Doppler echocardiography is commonly used ultrasonic device that displays color images, in addition is also a signal through the device speakers which reflects blood flow speed, this acoustic signal is used as a tool for finding the best measurement locations.
Different types of tissues in the body have different densities. Audio signals (echoes) is returning to probes will therefore vary according to the organ or tissue types ultrasound beam. As an example, bone and fatty tissue of different echo or audio signals. The various tissues and organs can therefore usually be separated from each other in the images are interpreted as ultrasound scan is in progress.
It is not known that ultrasound has harmful side effects and there is no radiation risk in radiology. Ultrasound in contrast to X-ray the advantage that images can be produced also by the body's soft organs. Air-filled organs such as the lungs, however, no or unsatisfactory images.
Apparatus
Echo cardiograph consists of a simplified probes, a computer and a monitor. Probes are recognized in the patient's chest while it emits ultrasound. In order to improve the quality of sound transmission grease a jelly mass on the skin, which also makes it easier to lead probes across the chest. Probes not only emits ultrasound, but it also receives reflected sound echoes from the heart. Audio signals are analyzed by a computer presents results on a screen. The computer can also add color to certain signals so that the display shows color images.
Heart
The heart consists of two atria (atria) and two ventricle (ventricles). Oxygen-poor blood flows back to the heart in the right atrium and then into the right ventricle. From the right ventricle to pump blood to the lungs where it disposes of the waste gases and oxygen is supplied again. The blood is then collected in the left atrium and enters the left ventricle. From here, blood is pumped into the body's major cycle through the main artery (aorta) and the other arteries. Between the atria and hjerekamrene the heart valves that prevent blood flowing back freaking way. Between the chambers of the heart and pulmonary circulation / the wide circulation it is also heart valves with the same function. The heart is covered with an outer membrane, the pericardium. Exterior of the heart we find the heart's own arteries, coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle with blood.
When done echocardiography?
There are various reasons to do echocardiography. One of them is to assess cardiac structure and function. An enlarged heart may be an indication of a failing heart. Study of heart failure is thus one of the most frequent reasons for doing echocardiography.
Other indications are assessment of the heart valves, fluid in the pericardium (pericardial), direction and speed of blood flow, monitoring of cardiac patients and aortic aneurysm (ballooning of the aorta).
Survey
The survey covers that said different techniques. The two most common are so-called two-dimensional sector scanning and Doppler technique. In addition, the patient can swallow down a small probes that emit and detects signals from the esophagus ( transesophageal echocardiography ). Stess Echocardiography is ultrasound examination of the heart after the patient has strained sharply, a survey can help reveal areas of the heart that makes for poor oxygen supply and thus wiser "looser" muscle.
Two-dimensional sector scanning
The study is based on signals from probes located in two main positions: Along with the sternum and the heart downward over the left chest. The image appears as a fan-shaped "slice", a cross-section of the heart in motion. The findings appear on a screen as the investigator watching, and they can be stored on video or as individual images. Angling the probes in different directions, the "blade" of the heart that is produced, moved through the heart so that the applicant can make a mental three-dimensional image of the heart.
Doppler echocardiography
Doppler technique makes it possible to calculate the speed of blood flowing in. The precision of the measurement depends on the angle between the ultrasound beam and blood flow. Is the blood stream directly in line with the beam, the most accurate measurements. The survey is used to measure the pressure difference across the narrow and calcified heart valves, blood flow, the amount of blood the heart pumps out per minute, or if there is leakage of blood from the left to the right ventricle through the hole in the heart, or the heart valves fail so that blood leaks back. Color Doppler makes it easier to assess the direction and magnitude of blood flow at specific anatomical locations.
How is the survey?
The study is done with the patient lying partially on the side. Gel applied to the skin to ensure the best possible quality of the ultrasound beam transmitted into and reflected from the body. Probes placed over different areas of the chest and upper abdomen to get the desired images of the heart. The examination lasts 30-45 minutes.
Patient Preparation
The survey requires no special preparation of the patient. There is no pain or discomfort associated with the survey.
What to do?
Echocardiography is the best examination of valvular disease. Each of the four heart valves may be considered separately, best photos you get of the mitral valve and aortic valve.
In coronary heart disease in which there is decreased blood supply to the heart muscle, most have normal echocardiogram. For some people, however, find reduced muscle strength in areas of decreased blood flow.
Heart failure may show impaired pump function, or enlarged heart. In patients with high blood pressure can be found thickened wall of the left ventricle. Perikardsykdom can show changes in the area between the myocardium and the outer retina heart, pericardium. CT and MRI can provide even better images of perikardforandringer.
A number of rarer conditions can also be detected by echocardiography.
A normal echocardiogram shows normal location and size of the heart and normal motion of the heart valves and the ventricle walls.
What is ultrasound?
Ultrasound is sound waves into the body of a probes. The sound waves have such a high frequency that they are not audible to the human ear. When sound waves hit the body tissue occurs an echo. The echo allows the sound waves return to the probes, which captures these tones. After processing in a computer, the received audio signals vivid black and white images on a screen. By Doppler echocardiography is commonly used ultrasonic device that displays color images, in addition is also a signal through the device speakers which reflects blood flow speed, this acoustic signal is used as a tool for finding the best measurement locations.
Different types of tissues in the body have different densities. Audio signals (echoes) is returning to probes will therefore vary according to the organ or tissue types ultrasound beam. As an example, bone and fatty tissue of different echo or audio signals. The various tissues and organs can therefore usually be separated from each other in the images are interpreted as ultrasound scan is in progress.
It is not known that ultrasound has harmful side effects and there is no radiation risk in radiology. Ultrasound in contrast to X-ray the advantage that images can be produced also by the body's soft organs. Air-filled organs such as the lungs, however, no or unsatisfactory images.
Apparatus
Echo cardiograph consists of a simplified probes, a computer and a monitor. Probes are recognized in the patient's chest while it emits ultrasound. In order to improve the quality of sound transmission grease a jelly mass on the skin, which also makes it easier to lead probes across the chest. Probes not only emits ultrasound, but it also receives reflected sound echoes from the heart. Audio signals are analyzed by a computer presents results on a screen. The computer can also add color to certain signals so that the display shows color images.
Heart
The heart consists of two atria (atria) and two ventricle (ventricles). Oxygen-poor blood flows back to the heart in the right atrium and then into the right ventricle. From the right ventricle to pump blood to the lungs where it disposes of the waste gases and oxygen is supplied again. The blood is then collected in the left atrium and enters the left ventricle. From here, blood is pumped into the body's major cycle through the main artery (aorta) and the other arteries. Between the atria and hjerekamrene the heart valves that prevent blood flowing back freaking way. Between the chambers of the heart and pulmonary circulation / the wide circulation it is also heart valves with the same function. The heart is covered with an outer membrane, the pericardium. Exterior of the heart we find the heart's own arteries, coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle with blood.
When done echocardiography?
There are various reasons to do echocardiography. One of them is to assess cardiac structure and function. An enlarged heart may be an indication of a failing heart. Study of heart failure is thus one of the most frequent reasons for doing echocardiography.
Other indications are assessment of the heart valves, fluid in the pericardium (pericardial), direction and speed of blood flow, monitoring of cardiac patients and aortic aneurysm (ballooning of the aorta).
Survey
The survey covers that said different techniques. The two most common are so-called two-dimensional sector scanning and Doppler technique. In addition, the patient can swallow down a small probes that emit and detects signals from the esophagus ( transesophageal echocardiography ). Stess Echocardiography is ultrasound examination of the heart after the patient has strained sharply, a survey can help reveal areas of the heart that makes for poor oxygen supply and thus wiser "looser" muscle.
Two-dimensional sector scanning
The study is based on signals from probes located in two main positions: Along with the sternum and the heart downward over the left chest. The image appears as a fan-shaped "slice", a cross-section of the heart in motion. The findings appear on a screen as the investigator watching, and they can be stored on video or as individual images. Angling the probes in different directions, the "blade" of the heart that is produced, moved through the heart so that the applicant can make a mental three-dimensional image of the heart.
Doppler echocardiography
Doppler technique makes it possible to calculate the speed of blood flowing in. The precision of the measurement depends on the angle between the ultrasound beam and blood flow. Is the blood stream directly in line with the beam, the most accurate measurements. The survey is used to measure the pressure difference across the narrow and calcified heart valves, blood flow, the amount of blood the heart pumps out per minute, or if there is leakage of blood from the left to the right ventricle through the hole in the heart, or the heart valves fail so that blood leaks back. Color Doppler makes it easier to assess the direction and magnitude of blood flow at specific anatomical locations.
How is the survey?
The study is done with the patient lying partially on the side. Gel applied to the skin to ensure the best possible quality of the ultrasound beam transmitted into and reflected from the body. Probes placed over different areas of the chest and upper abdomen to get the desired images of the heart. The examination lasts 30-45 minutes.
Patient Preparation
The survey requires no special preparation of the patient. There is no pain or discomfort associated with the survey.
What to do?
Echocardiography is the best examination of valvular disease. Each of the four heart valves may be considered separately, best photos you get of the mitral valve and aortic valve.
In coronary heart disease in which there is decreased blood supply to the heart muscle, most have normal echocardiogram. For some people, however, find reduced muscle strength in areas of decreased blood flow.
Heart failure may show impaired pump function, or enlarged heart. In patients with high blood pressure can be found thickened wall of the left ventricle. Perikardsykdom can show changes in the area between the myocardium and the outer retina heart, pericardium. CT and MRI can provide even better images of perikardforandringer.
A number of rarer conditions can also be detected by echocardiography.
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