Heart ECHO (ultrasound) is one of the best methods for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases, because it provides maximum information on diseases in the shortest possible time. The basic principles of its action - waves are reflected from structures of various densities, while changing the propagation velocity and wavelength. These waves are captured by the equipment and after computer processing create an image of the heart on the screen.
Echocardiography (ECHO of the heart) allows the cardiologist to determine changes in the valvular apparatus, wall thickness and size of the chambers of the heart, changes in the structure of the myocardium and its functions, changes in the nature and speed of blood flow through the valves, pathological discharges.
The advantages of this excellent diagnostic method - painlessness, informational content, the absence of any damage - make its use optimal in pediatric practice.
Indications for ECHO-KG of the heart
- The presence of changes in electrocardiographic studies.
- The presence of at least one of the complaints: shortness of breath, weakness, a prolonged increase in overall body temperature, interruptions in cardiac work, rapid heartbeat, rare loss of consciousness, pain in the heart, and the appearance of edema.
- Revealing in the heart of noise.
- Coronary heart disease (atherosclerotic and post-infarction cardiosclerosis, myocardial infarction).
- Cardiomyopathy
- Pressure increase.
- Pericardial Disease
- Heart defects.
- Lung diseases (chronic bronchitis, acute pneumonia, bronchiectatic disease, bronchial asthma).
- Systemic diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatism, scleroderma).
Heart ultrasound is one of the most painless and safest methods among various diagnostic methods. In order to make an ECHO of the heart, no preparation is needed. During the procedure, the patient does not feel any unpleasant sensations, except that a slight coolness due to a special gel. The procedure has no contraindications. It allows you to make the most accurate diagnoses, according to which the doctor will select the most appropriate treatment for this patient. Even with the help of ECHO (ultrasound) of the heart, it is possible to monitor the course of diseases and evaluate the correctness of their treatment.
Study objectives
Ultrasound of blood vessels and the heart is used in medical practice, primarily for the recognition of various heart defects. It is also used to diagnose myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, the state after myocardial infarction; diseases of the external, muscular heart membranes (pericarditis, cardiomyopathy); with diseases of important peripheral arteries - lower limbs, brain, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys. Increasingly, ECHO of the heart is used to conduct routine preventive examinations, because the method allows you to identify even early disorders in the processes of the heart.
Norm
In the absence of any relevant diseases, the conclusion of the ECHO of the heart indicates that the size of the heart is normal and the thickness of its muscle is also, the valves are not changed, quantitative parameters of cardiac work are also recorded. This is important for follow-up monitoring of the patient.
Echocardiography allows you to identify the initial possible changes in the heart - diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, left ventricular hypertrophy (a significant thickening of the wall).
Echocardiography also allows you to identify areas of the myocardium that lack blood flow due to the detection of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries; these areas look less actively contracting (hypokinesia zones) in comparison with “healthy” ones. Similar areas of myocardial hypokinesia are manifested either with an already occurred myocardial infarction, or in areas of high risk of heart attacks, such patients require coronary angiography followed by surgical treatment (bypass). Echocardiography is also the only reliable way to diagnose congenital valvular as well as acquired heart defects. This method allows you to perform dynamic monitoring of patients with heart defects and timely identify indications for the necessary operational correction.