Echocardiography is an imaging modality that produces moving images of the heart as it beats, providing physicians with information about the heart’s structure and function. Drexel echocardiologists are board certified by the American Society of Echocardiography and bring outstanding expertise to the interpretation of echocardiographic studies.

Images are obtained non-invasively, without the use of ionizing radiation, and without causing any pain or discomfort. They are produced by beaming sound waves into the chest using a transducer that looks like a small wand. These sound waves bounce off the cardiac structures, producing an “echo” that is processed by a computer to create images of the heart walls and valves.

Echocardiography studies can help physicians determine the cause of cardiac symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath, and can reveal structural problems such as leaking or stiffened heart valves. They can also be used to help cardiologists find the best location on the heart to place pacemaker leads.

There are several kinds of echocardiograms. All provide information about the heart and can also measure the speed and direction of blood flow through the heart.

Transthoracic echo
A wand-like device is used to painlessly beam sound waves into the chest.

Stress echo
This test combines traditional stress testing with a transthoracic echo study. The patient exercises on a treadmill to “stress” the heart, and echo imaging is used to demonstrate the effect of exercise on the heart. This test can show whether the coronary arteries have been narrowed by plaque or fatty deposits. If patients are unable to exercise, a drug is given to accelerate the heart, simulating the effects of exercise.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
To perform this study, a tiny camera is passed down the throat and into the esophagus (tube that leads to the stomach) until it reaches the level of the heart. This echo test produces very high quality images because sound waves do not need to pass through other dense tissues, such as the lungs and chest.