Cardiac ultrasound
Cardiac ultrasound, commonly called echocardiography, echo or aheart ultrasound, or acardiovascular ultrasound, provides ultrasound imaging of the heart. Echocardiography uses standard 2D and 3D ultrasound as well as Doppler to create images of the heart.
Ultrasound利用声波来创造图像。Echocardiography可以通过放置在胸部的超声换能器进行经胸超声(TTE)成像，或者通过食管超声(TEE)，将超声探头放入患者的喉咙，从食管内部成像心脏。
A cardiac ultrasound may be performed in various ways, depending on the information that the referring doctor needs. A standard ultrasound is called a transthoracic echo. A sonographer will apply gel on to the chest area and then use a transducer over the heart area. The transducer will record the sound wave echoes from the heart which a computer will convert into moving images on a monitor. A small amount of iodine-based contrast medium may be injected intravenously to improve visualization of the heart’s structure.
A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) may be indicated if there is difficulty in visualizing the heart on a standard echocardiogram. During this procedure, a flexible tube containing a transducer is guided down the patient’s throat and into the oesophagus.
Doppler ultrasound may also be utilized. When Doppler sound waves bounce off blood cells moving through the heart and blood vessels, they change pitch. These changes allow the doctor to measure the speed and direction of blood in the patient’s heart. Doppler techniques are used in conjunction with standard and TEE to check blood flow and pressure in the arteries of the heart.
压力超声心动图也可能包括在内，因为一些心脏状况只发生在体育活动中。在这个过程中，在运动前(在跑步机上行走)拍摄心脏的超声图像，然后在病人休息时再次拍摄，并进行比较。
Echo contrast exams are performed using a micro-bubble agent that is injected through an IV line placed in the patient. The ultrasound waves reflect off the bubbles to enhance, highlight the blood. This can aid in evaluation of patients where traditional imaging is not clear for various reasons.
Point of care (POC) ultrasound is seeing increasing use for quick cardiac evaluations. Small, hand-held ultrasound systems are increasing being used for imaging assessments of the heart, rather than relying only on heart sounds on a stethoscope, because the causes of various heart sound anomalies can be seen on the ultrasound for a more accurate diagnosis.
A cardiac ultrasound is a non-invasive treatment, done on an outpatient basis. The procedure allows for determination of heart size, visualization of damaged heart valves, high blood pressure and thickening in the walls of the heart muscle, as well as many heart defects.
Read about advances in cardiac ultrasound:
Recent Advances in Echocardiography Technology
https://www.dicardiology.com/article/recent-advances-echocardiography-technology
Links to Echocardiography Educational Videos
https://www.dicardiology.com/article/links-echocardiography-educational-videos
Advances in Ultrasound Systems
//www.alohadebbie.com/article/advances-ultrasound-systems
Top Echocardiography News and Video From ASE 2017
https://www.dicardiology.com/article/top-echocardiography-news-and-video-ase-2017
A Glimpse Into the Future of Cardiac Ultrasound
https://www.dicardiology.com/content/blogs/glimpse-future-cardiac-ultrasound