Contrast echocardiography is a non-invasive procedure that adds contrast to a standard echocardiogram to provide clearer images of the heart and blood flow. Saline solution is commonly used as contrast, and the procedure can diagnose various heart problems.
Contrast echocardiography is a type of echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart and may also be called an echo. By adding contrast, a cardiac echo has better resolution. The additional, clearer resolution allows doctors to observe blood flow through the heart. The contrast is most commonly a saline solution, although research continues to find other sources of contrast.
An echocardiogram is a special type of ultrasound. It is specifically used in cardiac applications to provide images of the heart. Standard echocardiography uses Doppler sound waves to provide images of tissue and blood velocity. Contrast echocardiography adds contrast to several cardiac images. The contrast provides extra visibility so that a better representation of tissue and blood flow is possible.
Saline is used in contrast echocardiography. The saline solution is gently swirled to create microbubbles and then injected into a vein. During the heart echo, the bubbles reflect sound waves, making them appear opaque. Unlike red blood cells, these bubbles allow doctors to monitor the volume and exact flow of blood into and out of the heart.
The patient scheduled for contrast echocardiography will be instructed to remove clothing from the waist up. The special gel used for ultrasound is applied to the skin around the heart area and a standard echo is done for basic imaging. An intravenous (IV) line is then inserted into the vein in the left arm above the elbow. This IV line will provide access for the sonographer to inject contrast as needed. Once the contrast is shaken, it must be injected immediately because the bubbles are delicate and do not have long before they disappear.
Contrast echocardiography gives doctors the ability to see heart function and blood flow. Errors in heart function or problems with blood flow can be seen by adding contrast to a standard echocardiogram. The procedure is non-invasive and does not require surgery or scopes. A heart ultrasound is performed on the surface of the body.
Doctors use contrast echocardiography to diagnose a variety of heart problems. Myocardial echocardiography, for example, uses contrast to obtain images of the myocardial capillary vascular bed in the heart. A stress echocardiogram uses contrast to monitor systolic function and the motion of the ventricular walls during activity. Both of these examples allow doctors to see heart problems that may not be noticed otherwise, especially with a standard echocardiogram.
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