An echocardiogram (“echo”) is an ultrasound test that uses high frequency sound waves (non-radioactive) for viewing the heart. It is a safe and painless procedure that helps doctors diagnose heart problems. Pictures of the child’s heart can be viewed on a small monitor while the procedure is being performed. It is a non-invasive test (no probes or needles) and everything is done from the outside of the body. An echocardiogram is similar to a sonogram many women have had before a child was born; however, the echocardiogram focuses specifically on the heart and blood vessels around the heart.
How is child echo performed
The child will lie down tilted slightly on his / her side on a hospital bed in our child-friendly examination room. The child must be undressed from the waist up and can choose to wear a short gown.
To improve the quality of the pictures, a colorless, warm gel is applied to the skin on the area of the chest where the heart is located. A transducer, a small microphone-like device, is placed on top of the gel and against the skin. The transducer is able to send sound waves into the chest, which bounce off the different parts of a child’s heart creating a picture.
The transducer will be moved over the chest, abdominal area, and neck in order to obtain the images of the heart and surrounding blood vessels.
The sounds you may hear from the echo machine are the sounds of the blood flowing from one chamber to another and the valves opening or closing as the blood goes through.
The colors you see on the screen are not the colors of the blood in the heart. The colors tell us what direction the blood is flowing. The red color shows the blood is flowing towards the transducer and the blue color shows blood is flowing away from the transducer. A child may feel some discomfort from the pressure of the transducer; however, this varies from child to child. Pediatric echosonographers are trained to complete scans in as pain-free and patient-sensitive manner as possible.
A computer interprets the information from the transducer to make an image of the heart. This image is displayed on a small TV screen on the echocardiogram machine and is recorded into a digital storage system for the cardiologist to measure and review.
What is an Echocardiogram used for
Echocardiograms are generally the best tests to demonstrate the structure and function of the components of the heart. The echocardiogram is used for measuring the size and thickness of the heart chambers, how the heart is handling the pumping of blood through the chambers, and blood flow through the heart valves. The echocardiogram can detect structural abnormalities of the heart (holes between the chambers, fluid around the heart, mass inside the heart, etc.) and show valve shape, motion, narrowing or leaking.
How to prepare your child
Call us with any questions at 905-597-7111 and we’ll be glad to assist you.
Who performs the test?
A registered sonographer trained in echocardiography will typically perform the echo. If the sonographer is not registered, a physician will assist and monitor the echocardiogram.
Occasionally, a physician may perform the entire echo. Sometimes, a cardiologist specialized in echocardiography will come in at the end of the study, review images or may obtain additional images.
Who interprets the test?
A cardiologist who specializes in echocardiography will review the study and generate a report.
How long does an echocardiogram take?
The echocardiogram usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour in an unsedated but cooperative child. If a child is sedated for the study, he or she will need to stay until the nurse or doctor feels the child is ready to leave the hospital.
How do I learn about the test results?
If you are having a visit with your cardiologist after the echocardiogram, the results may be available before you leave.
Results of a child’s echocardiogram can be obtained from the ordering physician within 24 hours from the test.