Echocardiography

An echocardiogram is showing various x-ray images of the heart

An echocardiogram is a diagnostic procedure where ultrasound images of the heart identify (1) heart size (2) thickness of the heart muscle (3) valve structure (4)leaky or blocked valves (5) congenital heart defects (6) heart muscle contraction or scarring.

The procedure is performed by placing a small transducer, which emits ultrasonic sound waves on the chest wall. The sound waves pass through the chest to the heart and is reflected to the ultrasound probe. This reflected pulse is computer analyzed and continous images are available for review.

Speckle tracking echocardiography, a new imaging technique available at HRMC, allows for evaluation of individual heart muscle bundle movement. This helps to precisely identify heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), hypertrophy (increased muscle thickness) and areas of ischemia or scar (inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle). Few other hospitals in South Carolina use this technology.

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