An echocardiogram or 'echo' is used to characterise the heart and nearby blood vessels. Echocardiography uses ultrasound waves to create a picture of the heart. It can be used to assess a number of cardiac structures and function including:
- Cardiac function (and damage after a heart attack)
- Heart failure
- Valvular heart disease
- Congenital heart disease
- Heart muscle abnormalities
- Fluid around the heart
- Pressures within the heart
The study can be performed by placing an ultrasound probe on the chest wall (transthoracic echocardiogram - TTE) or by placing a probe into the oesophagus (transoesophageal echocardiogram - TOE). Please click on the below icons for more information with regards to each of these investigations:
Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE)
Transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE)
