A bubble echocardiogram uses ultrasound and tiny air bubbles to check for abnormal blood flow through the heart, revealing defects that may require surgery or other treatments. It is often used to diagnose heart defects in young children with symptoms such as shortness of breath or abnormal heart sounds. Patients should not panic if a doctor orders the test, as it may not necessarily indicate a serious condition.
A doctor may order a bubble echocardiogram to check for abnormal blood flow through and around the heart. This procedure can allow a cardiologist to identify a heart defect that could cause complications later in life. If a patient has a condition that shows up on bubble echocardiography, the doctor can do an evaluation to determine if surgery and other treatments are needed to address the problem.
In a bubble echocardiogram, an ultrasound technician visualizes the heart with the use of ultrasound. This provides a real-time view of your heartbeat and the movement of fluid through your heart. The technician injects a saline solution that contains tiny suspended air bubbles, which are created by shaking the solution just before injecting it. These bubbles can be seen on ultrasound as they move through the heart, allowing the technician to look for blood flowing in an unusual pattern or direction.
Normally, blood shouldn’t pass directly between the left and right sides of the heart. A bubble echocardiogram can reveal that blood is flowing through a defect such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO) or atrial septal defect (ASD), a hole in the heart. These defects can create problems, such as putting the patient at risk of a stroke from a blood clot and forcing the patient’s heart to work harder to keep the blood circulating.
Doctors might consider a bubble echocardiogram if a patient has symptoms suggestive of a heart problem, to determine if a problem is present and to find out more. This could occur at a very young age, because very young children who have heart defects are often easy to spot in routine diagnostic screening. They may be short of breath or may have abnormal heart sounds that suggest a defect in the structure of the heart. The test can reveal a defect and provide information about its severity.
Patients and family members should not panic if a doctor requests a bubble echocardiogram. While doctors don’t order this test unless they think there is something wrong, the patient may not have a heart condition or they may have a mild condition that doesn’t require any additional action. Patients who have concerns about the test result can discuss their concerns before the test. The doctor can offer more information about what the test will look for and what types of treatment options may be available if the patient needs treatment.
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