An echocardiogram (echo) is an imaging test that uses ultrasound to get pictures of your heart. It helps your healthcare provider look for symptoms that may be linked to how well your heart works. A transthoracic echo is sometimes called a TTE. It may also be called a surface echo. This is because the test is done outside your body. The pictures are taken from the outside (surface) of the chest wall. This test helps your provider assess your heart.
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Is safe and generally painless
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Can be done in a hospital, test center, or healthcare provider’s office
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Bounces harmless sound waves (ultrasound) off the heart. It uses a handheld device (probe or transducer) that looks like a microphone.
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May cause discomfort from the echo probe being pressed against the bony areas of the chest. This goes away once the probe is moved.
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Lets your healthcare provider look at the size and shape of your heart. They can also see the size, thickness, and movement of your heart's walls, and the heart's pumping strength.
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Shows if the heart valves are working correctly. It can also show if blood is leaking backward through your heart valves (regurgitation). Or if the heart valves are too narrow (stenosis).
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Shows if you have a tumor or infectious growth around your heart valves
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Will help your healthcare provider find out if there are problems with the outer lining of your heart (pericardium)
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Shows problems with the large blood vessels that enter and leave the heart
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Shows blood clots in the heart chambers
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Shows abnormal holes between heart chambers
Your healthcare provider will discuss your test results with you during a future office visit. The test results help the healthcare provider plan your treatment and any other tests you need.